Comparison of dialysis efficiency and nutritional parameters among elderly hemodialysis patients

Nutritional markers are important predictors of morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients. We investigated dialysis efficiency indicators and nutritional parameters of 82 elderly patients who started to receive hemodialysis treatment and lasted more than a year in our hospital for last 5 years. 20 patients were expired during treatment period and 62 patients are alive. The indicators were measured at one year after the initiation of dialysis and the most recent time or the most recent time before death. Differences in the means between the groups were evaluated by un-paired Student’s t-test. In survival group, urea reduction rate (URR), Kt/V/week, normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR), serum total cholesterol were higher than those of death group.Post-hemodialysis 1 yearSurvival groupDeath groupp valueURR (%)69.86±4.8566.07±12.090.05Kt/V/week4.78±1.353.91±0.750.01nPCR (g/kg/day)1.10±0.250.96±0.160.01Hemoglobin (g/dL)10.70±0.779.97±0.930.00T. cholesterol (mg/dL)168.52±37.22145.80±54.020.04The most recent timeSurvival groupDeath groupp valueURR (%)72.44 ± 3.7768.47±5.900.00Kt/V/week4.95±1.244.19±0.680.01nPCR (g/kg/day)1.20±0.600.85±0.300.02Hemoglobin (g/dL)10.47±1.499.79±1.250.07T. cholesterol (mg/dL)159.52±31.97130.20±32.790.00In conclusion, these results imply that elderly hemodialysis patients may require adequate dialysis manage and special nutritional support