Nutrition parameters as hemodialysis adequacy markers.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The nutritive status has significant role in improving the quality of life of dialysis' patients. The aim of this study was to find out if there is any correlation of the anthropometric parameters and markers of nutrition with the adequacy of HD. METHODS: The investigation was organized as a clinical, cross sectional study. Demographic characteristics, co-morbid conditions, smoking, dialysis duration and blood pressure were recorded. Serum total protein, albumin, ferritin and blood-lipids were measured as biochemical markers of nutritional status.One hundred and forty patients, 82 (58.6%) male, and 58 (41.4%) female, 55±12.59 years, were dividied into two groups. Group A consisted of 44 patients (14 women and 30 men) received the recommended hemodialysis dose (Kt/V ≥ 1.2), while the Group B consisted of 96 patients (69 males and 27 females) received non-adequate hemodialysis dose (Kt/V < 1.2). RESULTS: Patients with adequate hemodialysis had been longer on dialysis in correlation with the group of patients with non-adequate hemodialysis (73 ± 56.4 vs. 44 ± 50.1 months; p: 0.004). Group A and group B presented significant differences in the number of leukocytes (p: 0.027), and hemoglobin (p: 0.047), potassium (p: 0.038) and C-reactive protein level (p: 0.048) as well as in serum total protein (69 ± 4.63 vs. 65 ± 5.74 g/L; p < 0.0001) and albumin (38 ± 2.99 vs. 29 ± 4.4 g/L; p: 0.047). Pearsons correlation of factors that may have impact on hemodialysis adequacy indicated a significant relation between serum total protein and the index of hemodialysis adequacy (r: 0.21; p: 0.0446). CONCLUSIONS: All investigated anthropometric parameters and protein status showed significantly higher values in patients with adequate hemodialysis quality (Group A). The Group B showed higher levels of CRP and lower values of hemoglobin.