Nutritional status in short daily hemodialysis versus conventional hemodialysis patients in China

Malnutrition is the main determinant of mortality and morbidity in maintenance hemodialysis patients. In many countries except for China, it has been reported that short daily hemodialysis (SDHD) could improve nutritional status. We will report here the nutritional results obtained in the SDHD therapy period compared with conventional hemodialysis (cHD) therapy period in Chinese patients.

This study compared 29 SDHD patients (SDHD group), each patient served as his own control, with 30 cHD patients (cHD group) serving as the parallel controls. The hematologic parameters, anthropometric measurements, modified quantitative subjective global assessment (MQSGA) score, weekly standard Kt/V (std Kt/V) and average daily intake of protein were measured at baseline (SDHD₀ or cHD₀ period), at 3 months (SDHD₁ or cHD₁ period) and at 6 months (SDHD₂ or cHD₂ period).

The average daily intake of protein, dry weight, body mass index, mid-arm circumference, mid-arm muscle circumference, serum albumin, prealbumin, cholesterol, hemoglobin, weekly std Kt/V values at SDHD₂ were higher than the corresponding values at SDHD₀ (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Meanwhile, the average daily intake of protein, serum albumin, prealbumin, cholesterol, hemoglobin, weekly std Kt/V values at SDHD₂ were higher than the corresponding values at cHD₂ (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively), whereas the MQSGA score at SDHD₂ was lower than the score at SDHD₀ and cHD₀ (p < 0.05, respectively).

SDHD may improve the nutritional status compared with cHD in Chinese patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.