Methods used to assess body composition in CKD patients include anthropometric measures, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), creatinine kinetics (CK), and computed tomography (CT). Anthropometry and DXA are the two most often used methods in research studies but currently there is no reference standard for assessing body composition in CKD patients.

Studies suggest that CKD patients exhibit altered body composition as compared to healthy individuals. These results do not show any one test is superior to another in assessing body composition among CKD patients.

• Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
• Grade II is Fair;
• Grade III is Limited/Weak;
• Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
• Grade V is Not Assignable.
• High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
• Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
• Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
• Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
• Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.