Historical Study (1986-2014): Improvements in Nutritional Status of Dialysis Patients.
Malnutrition is common in dialysis patients and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Despite an increased focus on improved nutrition in dialysis patients, it is claimed that the prevalence of malnutrition in this group of patients has not changed during the last decades. Direct historical comparisons of the nutritional status of dialysis patients have never been published. To directly compare the nutritional status of past and current dialysis patients, we implemented the methodology of a study from 1986 on a population of dialysis patients in 2014.



Historical study comparing results of two cross-sectional studies performed in 1986 and 2014.



We compared the nutritional status of hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients attending the dialysis center at Roskilde Hospital, Denmark, in February to June 2014, with that of HD and PD patients treated at the dialysis center at Fredericia Hospital, Denmark, in April 1986.



Maintenance PD and HD patients (n = 64 in 2014 and n = 48 in 1986).



We performed anthropometry (body weight, triceps skinfold, and midarm muscle circumferences [MAMCs]) and determined plasma transferrin.



Relative body weight, triceps skinfold, MAMC, body mass index, and prevalence of protein-caloric malnutrition as defined in the original study from 1986.



Average relative body weight, triceps skinfold, MAMC, and body mass index were significantly higher in 2014 compared with 1986. The prevalence of protein-caloric malnutrition was significantly lower in 2014 (18%) compared with 1986 (52%).



The nutritional status of maintenance dialysis patients has improved during the last 3 decades. The reason for this improvement could not be identified in the present study, but the most likely contributors are the higher prevalence of obesity in the general population, less predialytic malnutrition, and an improved focus on nutrition in maintenance dialysis patients.
Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Nephrology, Holbæk Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: mkof@regionsjaelland.dk.
Mette
M
Koefoed
Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Nephrology, Zealand University Hospital, Denmark.
Charles Boy
CB
Kromann
Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Danni
D
Hvidtfeldt
Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Sophie Ryberg
SR
Juliussen
Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jens Rikardt
JR
Andersen
Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Nephrology, Zealand University Hospital, Denmark.
Peter
P
Marckmann
D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis