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Nutritional problems, overhydration and the association with quality of life in elderly dialysis patients

International Urology and Nephrology volume 44, pages 1885–1892 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this pilot study was to describe the hydration and nutritional status of a cohort of elderly dialysis patients and to explore the association between these parameters and the quality of life (QoL).

Methods

All patients over 75 years of age being in chronic dialysis by January 2008 at 3 dialysis units (n = 34) were asked to participate in this pilot study, 24 patients were entered. Hydration status was assessed by bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) and nutritional status by the subjective global assessment (SGA), BIS, anthropometric measures and biochemical parameters. Based on these assessments the patients were classified as being cachectic or not according to newly defined criteria. QoL was measured using the SF-36.

Results

The results showed cachexia in 6 (25 %), 37.5 % had a body mass index below 24, whereas according to SGA 91 % were malnourished. BIS showed low lean tissue index in 46 % and overhydration in 35 % of the patients. Compared to non-cachectic and normohydrated, cachectic and overhydrated patients reported consistently poorer QoL. For cachectic patients, the differences were clinically significant for all SF-36. BIS was easily applicable when used before dialysis.

Conclusions

The high frequency of nutritional deficits in this study calls for more attention to nutritional status in elderly dialysis patients. There is a need for a general agreement on how nutritional status should be assessed and reported, both in clinics and in research.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Bevegelsessenteret 3rd ET, 7006, Trondheim, Norway

    Inger Karin Lægreid, Knut Aasarød & Marit Jordhøy

  2. Department of Renal Medicine, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway

    Inger Karin Lægreid & Knut Aasarød

  3. Regional Centre for Excellence in Palliative Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    Asta Bye & Marit Jordhøy

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Hamar, Norway

    Marit Jordhøy

  5. Department of Health, Nutrition and Management, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway

    Asta Bye

Authors
  1. Inger Karin Lægreid
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  2. Asta Bye
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Correspondence to Inger Karin Lægreid.

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Lægreid, I.K., Bye, A., Aasarød, K. et al. Nutritional problems, overhydration and the association with quality of life in elderly dialysis patients. Int Urol Nephrol 44, 1885–1892 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-012-0280-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-012-0280-3

Keywords

  • Dialysis
  • Elderly
  • Quality of life
  • Nutritional status
  • Hydration status