Volume : 2, Issue : 3, March - 2013

Assessment of Nutritional Status of Hemodialysis Patients

Giirja K, Dr. R. Radha

Abstract :

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is the emerging public health problem in both developed and developing countries. Malnutrition is common among dialysis patients. Depending in part upon the method used and the population studied, from 45 to 65 percent of patients with End–Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) are malnourished. In this study, 90 patients who are initiated with hemodialysis treatment and who are undergoing hemodialysis for the period of two years were selected. The subjective data such as appetite, hunger, and sensation of thirst, urine output, bowel movements, sleep, social habits and physical activity level were also collected to assess their well being. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric evaluation of height, weight, BMI, skin fold measurements, biochemical evaluation of serum albumin, clinical evaluation and food frequency evaluation. This study was helpful in identifying etiology of ESRD, nutritional status of hemodialysis patients and thereby paving the way for nutrition intervention to improve their health status.