Background:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition. The global estimated prevalence of CKD is 13.4% (11.7%–15.1%), and for patients with end-stage kidney disease needing renal replacement therapy is estimated between 4.902 and 7.083 million. The prevalence of malnutrition among chronic hemodialysis patients ranges from 10% to 70%. Intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) is the cyclical therapy, in which patients with protein-energy wasting are provided with 3-in-1 parenteral nutrition formula containing glucose, lipid emulsion, and essential and nonessential amino acids. Studies have shown that IDPN led to increase in appetite, increased calorie and protein intake, and increase in body weight, arm muscle circumference, serum transthyretin, and albumin concentrations. Therefore, the role of IDPN in treating malnutrition in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on maintenance hemodialysis is pivotal and is the subject of increasing interest.
Aim:
The aim of this study was to assess the role of IDPN on malnutrition in ESRD patients on maintenance hemodialysis.
Materials and Methods:
This was an observational analytical study with follow-up and was conducted in Postgraduate Department of Medicine, Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra, Uttar Pradesh. All patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis for ≥3 months were eligible for participation in the study. Dietary intake in terms of calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus was calculated using Diet*Calc software. Patients’ nutritional status was assessed with the 7-point subjective global assessment tool (considered the gold standard for assessment of malnutrition) and by anthropometric and biochemical parameters. The primary endpoints of the study were a rise in serum albumin, and a decrease in C-reactive protein (CRP), with improvement in anthropometric parameters of malnutrition.
Results:
In the present study, the prevalence of malnutrition was 38.29%–96.8% depending on the criteria used for the assessment of nutritional status. Of the total 94 maintenance hemodialysis patients who participated in the study, 21 (22.34%) patients received IDPN therapy, for 3 months. Statistically significant rise in mean calorie (kcal/d), protein (g), and fats (g) intake and rise in serum albumin and serum total protein, and decrease in CRP was seen during follow-up at 6 months during the study period.
Conclusions:
IDPN therapy is associated with significant improvement in nutritional parameters and thus should be indicated in patients with malnutrition despite adequate dietary counseling or inability to tolerate oral nutritional supplements.