Nutritional assessment of patients with end-stage renal disease using the MNA scale

Patient malnutrition is a significant problem in the process of rehabilitation and treatment. One of the tools that can reveal the risk of malnutrition is a series of standardized nutritional questionnaires.

The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional status of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) by means of the minimal nutritional assessment (MNA) scale.

The study group included respondents suffering from ESRD who were patients of the Dialysis Center at the Clinic of Nephrology and Transplantation Medicine at the University Clinical Hospital in Wrocław. The study was conducted in 47 dialysis patients (22 women and 25 men), mean age 69.68 ±8.95 years. A standardized MNA scale was used to evaluate the nutritional status of the patients.

In the study group, women had a significantly lower score on the MNA scale than men (23.95 vs 25.26 points). Using the MNA scale, the risk of malnutrition was found in 13 patients, while malnutrition was found in 1 patient. Among females, the mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.28, and it was significantly correlated with the MNA score. In males, the mean BMI was 29.61, but it did not correlate with the MNA score. The time spent undergoing renal replacement therapy was 7.63 years for women and 7.24 years for men. This correlated significantly with the MNA score only in the case of men. Significant correlations were established between eating habits and MNA scores in both groups.

The results obtained using the MNA scale showed a significant risk of malnutrition in patients with ESRD. In women only, a low score on the MNA scale significantly correlated with the BMI. The time of renal replacement therapy had a significant impact on the MNA scale only in the case of men. An influence of comorbidities on the MNA scores recorded by men and women was not observed. Major health incidents and other stressful situations significantly affected the nutritional status in men.