Nutritional status among the hemodialysis patients in Kuala Terengganu

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.