A Study on Nutritional Status during Dialysis in Patients Undergoing Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Seo, Ji Yeon; Kim, Nam Ho; Heo, Young Ran

Abstract

Patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis are at risk for protein-energy malnutrition because of nutrient losses during dialysis. This study determined the nutritional status of patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Forty-four patients receiving CAPD were divided into two groups according to dialysis period. We investigated the nutritional status of the patients by measuring anthropometric and biochemical parameters, as well as food intake, self-appetite, dietary habits, a subjective global assessment, and a total nutritional status assessment. Group I subjects (7 males, 13 females) had received dialysis for < 2 years, whereas the group II subjects (18 males, 6 females) received dialysis for > or = 2 years. Energy intake with added dextrose in the dialysate per kg of body weight was 30.3 +/- 5.8 kcal in group I and 29.0 +/- 8.1 kcal in group II. The average protein intake per kg of weight was 1.0 +/- 0.3 g in group I and 1.0 +/- 0.4 g in group II, which were less than the recommended protein intake for patients undergoing CAPD (1.2-1.5 g/kg). Mean serum albumin level was significantly lower in group II than that in group I (p < 0.05). A recent self-appetite score was significantly higher in group II than that in group I (p < 0.01). The dietary habits score was significantly lower in group II than that in group I (p < 0.05). The subjective global assessment was significantly higher in group I (85.0%) than that in group II (54.2%) under normal nutrition status (p < 0.05). The dialysis period was significantly and negatively correlated with the subjective global assessment (r = -0.502, p < 0.01) and the total nutritional status assessment (r = -0.575, p < 0.01). These results demonstrated that patients undergoing CAPD for > or = 2 years had worse nutritional status than those who had been undergoing dialysis for < 2 years. Good nutritional status can predict the long-term survival of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Additionally, the exact evaluation of nutritional status before 2 years will be important to maintain long-term dialysis therapy in patients undergoing CAPD.