Dietary intakes differ between renal transplant recipients living in patient hotels versus home.
OBJECTIVE
To compare dietary intake and health-related quality of life approximately 6 to 10 weeks after renal transplantation in patients living at home and at a patient hotel, and how the patients were following a heart-healthy diet according to the current American Heart Association guidelines.


METHODS
Cross-sectional observational study.


METHODS
Outpatient clinic at Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Norway.


METHODS
Forty renal transplant patients, 20 patients (14 men and 6 women) in both groups. There were 4 diabetic patients in each group.


METHODS
Dietary intake was assessed by 4-day dietary records. Health-related quality of life was investigated by the SF-36 questionnaire. The main outcome variables were daily energy intake and intakes of protein, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, fiber, and fruit and vegetables. The variables were tested by 2-sample t-tests, and significance was set at.05.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in daily energy intake between the groups (P =.08), but there were significantly higher daily intakes of protein (P =.003), total fat (P =.03), monounsaturated fat (P =.02), cholesterol (P =.04), fiber (P =.02), calcium (P =.03), and fruit and vegetables (P =.03) in the group living at the patient hotel. The mean intake of saturated fat was 14.5% of total energy in the group living at home and 14.6% in the group living at the patient hotel. There were no significant differences in health-related quality of life between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that there are differences in dietary intake in renal transplant patients living at home compared with those at a patient hotel. It seems that neither of the groups follows current guidelines for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Kahra
Terhi
T
Asker and Baerum Hospital, Baerum, Norway. kahra@chello.no
Jenssen
Trond
T
Løvik
Astrid
A
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services / Q000592:standards*; D006798:Housing / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires