Nutritional status and quality of life in hemodialysis patients

Abstract

Introduction: In Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease, the patient needs renal replacement therapy, among them, hemodialysis (HD). Despite the benefits of HD, this procedure affects the nutritional status and quality of life (QL) of the patient.

Objective: Correlating the nutritional status at the QL level of patients in HD.

Methods: Cross-sectional study with patients on HD for at least three months. Patients underwent an assessment of nutritional status by body mass index (BMI), arm circumference (AC), arm muscle circumference (MAMC), triceps skinfold (TS), serum albumin (Alb) and creatinine (CR). QL was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study 36 - Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. The scores generated by the SF-36 were correlated with the nutritional status indicators through the Pearson and/or Spearman's Correlation Coefficient.

Results and Discussion: 37 patients participated in the study, aged 50.6 ± 13.0 years old, and 54.1% were female. According to the evaluation of nutritional status, there was a prevalence of eutrophy (48.7%) by BMI and malnutrition of 37.8% evidenced by AC and MAMC. In the biochemical evaluation, 25.0% had a reduction of Alb and 18.9% of CR. The dimension of QL was the most impaired physical aspects limitation. In the analysis of correlations, nutritional parameters (BMI, AC, and Alb) were correlated to patients' QL.

Conclusion: BMI, AC, and Alb correlated with SF-36 dimensions, indicating that changes in nutritional status may influence the physical and emotional functioning of these patients.