title: Nutritional problems, overhydration and the association with quality of life in elderly dialysis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and Department of Renal Medicine, St. Olavs University Hospital, Bevegelsessenteret 3rd ET, 7006, Trondheim, Norway. inger.k.lagreid@ntnu.no
authors.forename: Inger Karin
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Lægreid
authors.forename: Asta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bye
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aasarød
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jordhøy
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000209:etiology*