Publication:

Evaluation of malnutrition in chronic kidney disease patients in a tertiary health care center at Uttarakhand: a single center, cross-sectional and observational study

Background Malnutrition in CKD patients contributes to an increased risk of mortality and morbidity. This study aims to explore the prevalence of malnutrition among CKD dialysis dependent and not on dialysis patients at a tertiary health care center at Uttarakhand and examining the correlations between SGA score, biochemical markers, and anthropometric measures.

Methods A cross-sectional and observational study was performed at Nephrology department, All India institute of medical sciences, Rishikesh from March, 2023 to July, 2024. It included 150 patients. Nutritional status was assessed with subjective global assessment score that included parameters like weight, dietary intake, gastrointestinal symptoms, functional capacity, subcutaneous fat, muscle wasting, oedema and ascites. Biochemical and anthropometric measures of patients were then correlated with SGA score.

Results Prevalence of malnutrition in CKD patients in this study was 32%. GFR significantly predicted any presence of malnutrition for CKD patients not on dialysis. Blood urea, creatinine, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, phosphorus were significantly associated with SGA Score (p<0.05). Weight, height, BMI, TSF and MAC decreased with increase in degree of malnutrition and it was statistically significant (p-<0.001, p-0.0031, p-<0.001, p-<0.001 and p-<0.001 respectively).

Conclusions Malnutrition is prevalent among CKD patients. Prevalence of malnutrition increases with disease progression. Nutritional assessment is an important part of the holistic management of CKD. Biochemical and anthropometric parameters are reliable tools for monitoring and improving patient outcomes.