Indroduction: Establishing which parameters to use for diagnosing malnutrition in hemodialysis patients is a challenge in clinical practice. The handgrip strength (HGS) has stood out as a method of assessing nutritional status. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the cut-off point for HGS in the assessment of the risk of malnutrition and inflammation in HD patients, and its association with other parameters. Methods: Study carried out in hemodialysis units in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. We obtained the cut-off point of the HGS through the ROC curve, using the malnutrition and inflammation score (MIS) as a reference. We checked the relationship (Odds ratio) between the variables “MIS” and “HGS” with the other study variables using the multivariate analysis (logistic regression). Results: We assessed 238 patients (132 men), between 18 and 87 years of age (median = 59). The HGS cut-off point for diagnosing malnutrition and inflammation according to the reference used was <14.5 kg for women, and <23.5 kg for men. According to the HGS criteria, malnourished patients were older (OR = 0.958), with lower arm circumference (OR = 1.328) and higher scores in the malnutrition and inflammation score (OR = 0.85). Conclusion: HGS was significantly correlated with other nutritional assessment parameters. These results suggest that HGS is a valid screening tool to identify the risk of malnutrition and inflammation in hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: The protein-energy malnutrition is found in a large proportion in dialysis patients. The malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS) seems to be the most appropriate integrated method for assessing the nutritional status or nutritional risk of these patients. The aim of the study is to evaluate the MIS, in the diagnostic accuracy for the assessment of malnutrition, and its correlation with the survival time of patients in hemodialysis (HD). Methods: Study carried out in HD units in the city of Curitiba, Brazil, from January 2013 to December 2015. Clinical, laboratory and anthropometric data were evaluated. The data comparison between patients was made according to the t-test and the chi-square. The Kaplan-Meier curve was constructed to assess the influence of MIS on patient survival and log rank tests were used to verify the equality of survival distributions in these groups. Results: 113 HD patients were evaluated, 74% male. From the multivariable proportional hazards model (Cox regression), the MIS> 5 was a predictor of mortality, as well as creatinine <7 mg/dl and vascular access via HD catheter. In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, patients with MIS <5 had a significantly higher survival rate. It was also possible to confirm a significant association between creatinine <7 mg/dl and catheter vascular access, and mortality. Conclusion: MIS is an independent predictor of mortality in HD patients. The cutoff 5 was able to predict mortality