NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS IN ROUTINE PRACTICE: VALUE OF WEIGHING AND BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE ANALYSIS

IntroductionWe evaluated clinical and bioelectrical impedance (BIA) parameters at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up and associated these parameters with survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. MethodsOne hundred seventeen patients were enrolled and were evaluated prospectively every 3 months. All patients underwent at least 1 BIA-based assessment, and 73 underwent at least 2 assessments. Data regarding the site of onset, age at onset, weight, body mass index (BMI), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale score (ALSFRS), fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), and phase angle (PA) were collected. ResultsAt the time of diagnosis, weight loss exceeding 5% of the premorbid weight and low PA were poor prognostic factors. During follow-up, a decrease of PA and FFM were associated with shorter survival, regardless of weight loss. ConclusionsThese results confirm that BIA is useful to identify poor prognostic factors at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up and thus could be used to monitor patients during follow-up. Early identification of poor prognostic factors enables nutritional management and might improve patient survival. Muscle Nerve 51: 479-484, 2015