The Impact of Nutritional Status on Health-Related Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is frequent in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Nutritional deficiencies may negatively impact quality of life (QOL). A nutritional intervention program (NIP) to identify and intervene in patients with nutritional problems may positively influence QOL.Methods: This study examines the utility of the Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS) in detecting nutritional risk (NR) and assesses the correlation between nutritional status and QOL in dialysis patients upon starting a NIP. One hundred and twenty patients were included in this cross-sectional study. The MIS was used to detect NR and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL-SF™) instrument version 1.2 was used to assess QOL.Results: 62% of patients were found to be at NR (MIS>5). Nutritional status was significantly correlated with all generic QOL sub-scales. On a multiple linear regression analysis, malnutrition showed the highest level of explanation in the Kidney Disease Summary Component which explained 28.9% of the variance; the Physical Component Summary which explained 33% of the variance; and the Mental Component Summary which explained 21.5% of the variance. Conclusion: Malnutrition was found to be the most significant predictor of impaired scores on the KDQOL-SF™. The use of MIS to identify patients at NR and a nutritional assessment to detect malnutrition in its early stages are important given the effects a NIP can have on improving QOL in HD patients.