Geriatric nutritional risk index: a mortality predictor in hemodialysis patients.

Recently, the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) has been introduced as a valuable tool to assess the nutritional status of hemodialysis (HD) patients. To determine the predictive value of the GNRI score for death in HD, we studied 145 chronic HD patients (%53 men, mean age 60 ± 16 years). The GNRI score was estimated by an equation involving serum albumin and individual's weight and height. According to the highest positive likelihood and risk ratios, the cut-off value of the GNRI for mortality was set at 100. The survival of patients on HD was examined with the Cox proportional hazards model. Mortality was monitored prospectively over an 18-month period, during which 35 patients died. The GNRI (mean 102.6 ± 5.5) was significantly positively correlated with lean body mass, hematocrit, serum lipids and presence of metabolic syndrome. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis demonstrated that the GNRI <100, serum ferritin ≥ 500 µ g/L and age 65 years or older were significant predictors for mortality (hazard ratio 3.691, 95% CI 1.751-7.779, P = 0.001; hazard ratio 3.105, 95% CI 1.536-6.277, P = 0.002; and hazard ratio 2.806, 95% CI 1.297-6.073, P = 0.009, respectively), after adjustment to gender and vintage time. It can be concluded that, in addition to old age, malnutrition (low GNRI) and inflammation (high ferritin) are identified as significant independent risk factors that predict all-cause mortality in HD patients.

Diabetic nephropathy: a strong predictor of sleep quality in hemodialysis patients.

Sleep complaints are common in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Sleep quality (SQ) is a predictor of quality of life and mortality risk in HD. The aim of this study was to examine factors that may have a role in SQ. In this cross-sectional analytic study, 138 end-stage renal disease patients receiving maintenance HD for >3 months were included. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to measure individual's SQ. Patients with a global PSQI score >5 were assumed as poor sleepers. Eighty-eight patients (64%) were classified as poor sleepers. Poor sleepers were older and more likely had diabetes. They had significantly higher serum ferritin and calcium levels and lower serum parathyroid hormone level (all P-values <0.05). The global PSQI score was positively correlated with age, serum calcium level and presence of diabetes as the underlying cause of renal failure. In the multi-variable binary regression model, presence of diabetes (Odds Ratio (OR) = 3.67, P = 0.008) and body pain (OR = 1.182, P = 0.014) were the significant independent predictors for poor SQ. Poor SQ was common among our HD patients, especially among diabetic cases and, therefore, there is a need to pay more attention to the care of this subgroup with regard to the diagnosis and management of sleep complaints.

Quality of life and sleep in hemodialysis patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the quality of life and sleep of chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. Quality of sleep was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and quality of life (QoL) was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form (SF-36) in 115 HD patients. One hundred (87%) patients were "poor sleepers" (global PSQI ≥5). The SF-36 mental component summary and physical component summary (PCS) scores were higher than 50 only in 43% and 32% of the subjects, respectively. No significant differences were found in QoL and sleep according to the patient's gender, presence of diabetes and time on HD. Correlation between total SF-36 score and global PSQI was statistically significant (r = -0.227, P <0.05). Poor sleep is common in dialysis patients and is associated with lower QoL, especially with mental health component of life quality.

Medical and socioeconomic barriers to peritoneal dialysis utilization in the central province of Iran.

The objectives of this study were to determine the impact that medical and socioeconomic status have on incident peritoneal dialysis (PD) use. In a prospective cohort study, 77 consecutive end-stage renal disease patients (53% women, mean age, 57.5 ± 16.5 years) who were planned to start dialysis were assessed for PD eligibility. The physicians' referral rate for PD consultation was 71%. One-half of the patients had important medical and socioeconomic barriers to PD, such as lack of family support, learning and performance disability, and less-than-ideal home situation. Patients with barriers were older, low educated, and more likely to be diabetic. In conclusion, consultation with a multidisciplinary team and the availability of health care systems financial supports are important drivers of PD. In addition, there is a likely need for further educational activities focused on PD, in order to change physicians' preference towards hemodialysis.