Abstract:
This study was carried out to determine the nutritional status among 49 hemodialysis
patients in Kuala Terengganu. Respondents' age ranged from 29-76 years. Questionnaire
forms have been used to collect respondents' background information. Anthropometric
measurements taken were weight, height, skinfold thickness of triceps, biceps.
subscapular and suprailiac. Body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat were then
determined based on anthropometric measurements. Result from the respondents
characteristic, there were 23 male respondents and 26 female respondents. Majority of
them were Malays, and minority were Chinese. From the anthropometry measurement
data, generally shown that there were increasing for measurement of biceps, subscapula.
suprailiak and wrist circumference measurements, decreasing in measurements of weight.
BMI, triceps and midarm skinfold measurement, for the measurements post- and pretreatment.
By using paired T test, it shows a significant in BMI (p = 0.043, p < 0.05).
Beside, the energy intake by total respondents were 1339.5 409.0 kcal/ day or 22.3 ± 8.0
kcal/ kg /day, protein intake by total respondents was 50.1 ± 19.8 gm/ day or 0.8 ± 0.4
gm/kg/day. Both of the energy intake and protein intake by total respondents were lower
than the recommended amount and it showing that protein energy malnutrition has
occurred. The intake of fluid, calcium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium were in the
safety level. For the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), Indian mackerel fish, palm oil
(olein), cooked rice, coconut milk, soya sauce, UHT milk with chocolate flavour, carrot
and orange were the most frequently intake by total respondents for protein, oils and fats.
legumes and legumes product, cereal and grain products, milk and milk products.
vegetables products, and fruit and fruits products. By using Pearson correlation
coefficient and Spearman rank coefficient test (non-parametric testing with Spearman
rho), it shows that significant correlation between age and fluid intake (r = -0.284, p <
0.05), monthly income and fluid intake (r = -0.351, p < 0.05), monthly income and
potassium intake (r = -0.291, p < 0.05), educational level and fluid intake. (r = 0.312, p <
0.05). After this, hopefully more effort will perform to increase the nutritional status of
the hemodialysis patients especially to increase the health status and their quality of life.