EVALUATION OF MALNUTRITION, DEPRESSION AND BIOCHEMICAL INDICES IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Background and Aim: Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is prevalent in patients with end stage renal disease on hemodialysis (HD) which increases morbidity and mortalityMethods: This cross sectional study was done on HD patients. The nutritional status was evaluated by subjective global assessment (SGA). The Beck Depression questionnaire was used for detecting depression. Blood sample was taken and biochemical indices were checked. The results were presented as mean ± standard error (SE). The correlations were calculated by the Spearman correlation test. A P value of less than .05 was considered significant.Results: Findings of this study on 100 HD patients (42 males and 58 females) are as follow: Age 55.05±1.8 years, SGA 12.23±.36 (mild to moderate malnutrition), Beck Depression score 14.1±.81 (mild depression), weight (Wt) 65.43±1.54, height (Ht) 163.14±0.89, phosphorus 6.06±.9, potassium5.38±.1, sodium 139.2±.4, creatinine (Cr) 8.77±1.63, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 50.98±2.03, and albumin 3.92±.07. A significant positive correlation was found between BUN and Wt (r = 0.28, P = .01) and Ht (r = 0.32, P = .006). Also a positive correlation was found between Cr and Ht (r = 0.32, P = .005). A negative relationship was seen between Cr and age (r = - 0.23, P = .03). Depression score was positively related to SGA (r = 0.28, P = .004) and negatively correlated with potassium(r = - 0.25, P = .02).Conclusion: Based on this study, HD patients had mild malnutrition and depression. Patients with higher depression scores were more malnourished. Higher potassium levels were related to lower depression score.

Keywords:

Hemodialysis , Malnutrition , Depression