Malnutrition, and anthropometric and biochemical abnormalities in end-stage renal disease patients.

OBJECTIVES: To detect and compare the degree of malnutrition as well as the anthropometric and biochemical abnormalities among male and female patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out at hemodialysis units in 7 Jordanian hospitals, between 2004 - 2005. Two hundred and seventeen ESRD outpatients who underwent hemodialysis were recruited using the convenience-sampling technique. A subjective global assessment (SGA) was used to assess the degree of malnutrition in both male and female patients. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were also assessed in all patients.

RESULTS: The SGA suggested that 50% of females were well nourished while 75% of the males were moderately to severely malnourished. The measured anthropometric variables showed a significant decrease in both male and female patients, except for triceps skinfold thickness. The hemoglobin as well as blood creatinine level were lower among females. In the biochemical parameters, there was a significant decrease in hemoglobin, albumin, and total protein blood levels in male patients. However, a significant decrease in hemoglobin only was detected in female patients with advanced malnutrition.

CONCLUSIONS: The nutritional status determined by SGA indicated a higher proportion of male patients with moderate to severe malnutrition as compared to female patients. Most of the anthropometric parameters could be used to assess the nutritional status of hemodialysis patients. The noticeable hemoglobin reduction, which increased with malnutrition degree, was significant in both male and female patients, while serum albumin and total protein reduction was significant among male patients only.