Concurrent and Predictive Validity of Composite Methods to Assess Nutritional Status in Older Adults on Hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of subjective global assessment (SGA), malnutrition inflammation score (MIS), and mini nutritional assessment short-form (MNA-SF) in older adults on hemodialysis (HD) by evaluating their concurrent and predictive validity. DESIGN: An observational and prospective study including older adults on HD. SETTING: Six dialysis units. SUBJECTS: We assessed 137 HD patients aged ≥60 years (71.7% male, 70.2 ± 7.2 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The nutritional status was assessed by 7-point SGA, MIS and MNA-SF, and by objective methods. Patients were followed up for 14.5 (8; 26.3) months (median and interquartile) to assess survival. RESULTS: Protein energy wasting (PEW) was present in 63% of the patients when assessed by SGA, in 77% by MIS, and in 26% by MNA-SF. Most objective parameters of patients classified with PEW were lower (P < .05) than those from patients classified as well-nourished by SGA, MIS, and MNA-SF. In addition, the hazard of death was higher for patients classified as PEW by SGA (hazard ratio 2.63 [95% confidence interval 1.14-6.00]), MIS (5.13 [1.19-13.7]), and MNA-SF (2.53 [1.34-4.77]) in comparison to well-nourished patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of PEW varied depending on the tool applied. SGA, MIS, and MNA-SF had good concurrent and predictive validity for the assessment of nutritional status, but SGA and MIS were likely to perform better than MNA-SF.

Food intake assessment of elderly patients on hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the dietary intake of elderly patients on hemodialysis (HD) is lower than that of elderly individuals with normal renal function. In addition, we also assessed whether the dietary intake of elderly on HD is lower on the dialysis day (DD) than on nondialysis days (non-DD). DESIGN: A cross-sectional and observational study including elderly on HD and non-chronic kidney disease (non-CKD) elderly. SUBJECTS: We assessed 54 noninstitutionalized elderly patients on HD (study group) and 47 non-CKD elderly (control group) aged ≥60 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All participants had their dietary intake assessed by 3-day food diaries. As a sensitivity analysis, we also assessed the dietary intake in the adequate reporters, which were identified when the ratio-energy intake-to-estimated basal metabolic rate-was above 1.27 (Goldberg index). RESULTS: When comparing dietary intake between the study and control groups, adjusted for sex and underreporting, it was noted that only the intake of protein (ß: -9.9; P: .01) and phosphorus (ß: -104; P: .04) were significantly lower in the study group. In addition, when furthering the analysis in the study group by comparing DD with non-DD, it was observed that energy (18 ± 7 vs. 21 ± 8 kcal/kg/day), protein (0.8 ± 0.4 vs. 1.0 ± 0.4 g/kg/day), lipids (41 ± 20 vs. 48 ± 23 g/day), potassium (1371 ± 587 vs. 1540 ± 484 mg/day), and phosphorous intake (647 ± 312 vs. 789 ± 287 mg/day), but not carbohydrate (155 ± 54 vs. 167 ± 55 g/day) and calcium (470 ± 345 vs. 518 ± 333 g/day) were significantly lower on DDs than on non-DDs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Except for protein and phosphorous, energy and nutrient intake of elderly patients on HD are similar to that of non-CKD elderly. In addition, the dietary intake is lower on DDs, highlighting the importance of focusing efforts to improve nutritional intake mainly during the day of dialysis treatment.