Effects of dialysis frequency on the nutritional status of hemodialysis patients

Abstract

Introduction: Malnutrition is a common problem in maintenance hemodialysis patients and isassociated with increased mortality and morbidity. This study was carried out to determine the effectsof dialysis frequency on nutritional markers hemodialysis patients in Kashan(Iran).Materials and Methods: This before and after clinical trials was carried out on 18 hemodialysispatients (12 female, 6 male). In this study, the standard hemodialysis regime of patients, which it was3times per week and 4 hours per session, were changed to 4 times per week for a period of 30 days. AllAnthropometry and nutritional markers data were collected during 30 days and statistically analyzedwith paired t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. P value less than 0.05(P<0.05) was consideredsignificant in all testsResults: Weight and BMI of patients increased from 68.3±13.9 kg, 28.4±7.1 to 68.9±13.8 kg,28.6±7 respectively (P<0.05). In addition, serum albumin levels of the patients showed an increasefrom 3.7±0.2 to 4±0.3 g/dl (P<0.05)Conclusion: These results showed that the increasing the number of dialysis times improvenutritional status in hemodialysis patients.

Keywords

• Hemodialysis
• Nutrition
• Dialysis frequency
• Kashan (Iran).