title: Diminished appetite predicts mortality of Chinese peritoneal dialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many maintenance dialysis patients experience a common cluster of symptoms, including diminished appetite (anorexia). This symptom has been associated with reduced quality of life and increased mortality in this population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether diminished appetite is a significant predictor of negative clinical outcomes in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal prospective study was conducted in 98 patients receiving PD in Beijing, China. Clinical characteristics, nutritional and inflammatory marker levels, and related peritoneal treatment information were collected. The appetite status and serum albumin levels were assessed initially and reevaluated monthly during the first year of follow-up. All patients were followed for nearly 5 years or until death. Data were collected about mortality, hospitalization, and peritonitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of participants was 60.3 ± 14.4, and 22.8% reported diminished appetite. At baseline, female sex, cardiovascular disease, and prealbumin level were the significant predictors of appetite. The average length of follow-up was 39 (range: 2-57) months. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed the survival rate was lower in patients reporting diminished appetite than for patients reporting normal appetite. Multivariate analysis indicated that diminished appetite, diabetes, ferritin, and serum albumin levels were independent predictors of mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported appetite was a predictor of clinical characteristics and outcome for patients receiving PD. Conducting appetite evaluation periodically is recommended as a nursing strategy to improve care for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China School of Nursing, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Baoyan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zijuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Haiyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Bingyan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China climeng2000@yahoo.com.cn.
authors.forename: Limeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000855:Anorexia; D044466:Asian People; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000451:nursing; D011788:Quality of Life; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012709:Serum Albumin
keywords: appetite; inflammation; malnutrition; mortality; peritoneal dialysis