title: The geriatric nutritional risk index may predict healthcare costs and health transitions during hemodialysis in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to retrospectively analyze the relationship between the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) at baseline and healthcare costs of three-month as well as the risk of quality-of-life score at the 6-month follow-up for Chinese hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients who had been on maintenance hemodialysis were enrolled in this study. The general characteristics, laboratory test results and GNRI of the patients at baseline were recorded. The healthcare costs and quality-of-life scores were determined at the follow-up examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were divided into two groups according to their median GNRI at baseline: a lower GNRI group (GNRI <86.4) and a higher GNRI group (GNRI >86.4). The patients in the lower GNRI group exhibited reduced hemoglobin (74.7±13.1 g/dL vs 82.3±15.2 g/dL, p<0.05) and albumin (27.4±3.3 g/L vs 34.5±4.0 g/L, p<0.05) as well as reduced body weight (62.7±9.5 kg vs 68.0±9.2 kg, p<0.05) at baseline. The medication cost at follow-up was higher in the lower GNRI group (RMB 3,238±1,534 vs RMB 2,378±1,048, p<0.05). And a lower GNRI at baseline was associated with increased future medication costs and worse health in hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that a lower GNRI in hemodialysis patients may be associated with an increased risk of higher future healthcare costs as well as worse health.
authors.affiliation: The Nephrology Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.|Zhengzhou University Institute of Nephrology, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yanna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.affiliation: The Nephrology Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.|Zhengzhou University Institute of Nephrology, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Nephrology Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.|Zhengzhou University Institute of Nephrology, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Fangfang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: The Nephrology Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.|Zhengzhou University Institute of Nephrology, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xianhui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: The Nephrology Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.|Zhengzhou University Institute of Nephrology, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: The Nephrology Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.|Zhengzhou University Institute of Nephrology, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: The Nephrology Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.|Zhengzhou University Institute of Nephrology, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhanzheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: The Nephrology Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China. Email: zhangsuoliu@sina.com.|Zhengzhou University Institute of Nephrology, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhangsuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001835:Body Weight; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D019456:Health Transition; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D012709:Serum Albumin