Total body nitrogen predicts long-term mortality in haemodialysis patients - a single-centre experience

It has been estimated that 30-50% of adult haemodialysis patients have moderate to severe malnutrition. We have previously shown that estimation of total body nitrogen, expressed as a nitrogen index (NI) by in vivo neutron activation analysis (IVNAA) is an accurate tool for estimating total body protein in dialysis patients. It is not clear whether the nitrogen index is predictive of mortality and morbidity in dialysis patients.