Relationship between Dietary Pattern and Nutritional Status among Hemodialysis Patients

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem representing more than 10% of the general population. Moreover, malnutrition is a significant comorbidity for patients with ESRD undergoing HD with prevalence ranges from 18 to 75%. Aim of the study: Assess the dietary pattern and the nutritional status among hemodialysis patients and to explore the relationship between dietary pattern and the nutritional status among hemodialysis patients. Design: A descriptive correlational research design was utilized. Setting: The present study was conducted at the Hemodialysis Unit Matrouh General Hospital; affiliated to the Egyptian Ministry of Health. Subjects: A convenience sample of 80 adult hemodialysis patients was recruited in the current study. Three tools were used for data collection; namely: The Bio-sociodemographic and Clinical Data Structured Interview Schedule, Patients’ Dietary Pattern Recall Interview Schedule, and Patients’ Nutritional Status Assessment Interview Schedule including PG-SGA, Anthropometric, and Biochemical Measurements. Results: Nearly half of the studied hemodialysis patients were malnourished and most of the studied patients had inadequate dietary intake. There was a significant relationship between the patients’ nutritional status (Global PG-SGA) and gender, level of education, occupation, hemodialysis hours per session, activity level, eating problems, dietary sodium intake, and ionized calcium level. In conclusion: The severely malnourished patients had inadequate dietary energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients intake. Recommendation: Increase the hemodialysis patients’ knowledge concerning malnutrition and their daily nutrient recommendations.