OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the nutritional status of patients undergoing hemodialysis in São Luís (MA). METHODS: A total of 399 patients (mean age 49.6 years; standard deviation 15.6; 248 males) were assessed from three dialysis centers in the city. The inclusion criteria were the following: age 18 years or older, undergoing hemodialysis at least three times per week for at least the last three months, and not having any wasting diseases. The following data were collected to assess nutritional status: body mass index, mid-arm muscle circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, percentage of body fat (%BF), serum albumin, creatinine and total cholesterol, and subjective global assessment. RESULTS: Most patients were within the normal weight range according to body mass index (62.5%) and percentage of body fat (54.9%). Meanwhile, most were malnourished according to the mid-arm muscle circumference (63.0%) and triceps skinfold thickness (63.0%). According to the mid-arm muscle circumference, malnutrition was more prevalent in men (75.9%), whereas according to the triceps skinfold thickness, malnutrition was more prevalent in women (72.7%). Serum albumin values were below 4.0 g/dL in 67% of the studied patients. Serum creatinine levels were as expected for the population of the study as a whole; meanwhile, the cholesterol levels were near the lower end of the normal range. Malnutrition was found in 61% of the patients according to the subjective global assessment. CONCLUSION: The majority of the patients were classified as malnourished when criteria such as mid-arm muscle circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, subjective global assessment and serum albumin levels were considered, and in nutritional risk when serum creatinine and total cholesterol levels were considered. These data show that measures are necessary to improve the nutritional status of this population.
Nutritional assessment; Anthropometry; Malnutrition; Kidney failure, cronic; Renal dialysis
