Concurrent validity of an appetite questionnaire in peritoneal dialysis

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Clinical Nutrition
• Dietetics

Background:

• Decreased appetite is a common symptom in chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• Poor appetite can lead to reduced food intake and protein-energy malnutrition in the long term.
• Identifying patients with poor appetite is crucial for nutritional management in CKD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Appetite and Food Satisfaction Questionnaire (AFSQ) in assessing appetite and food satisfaction in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD).
• To determine the association between AFSQ scores and nutritional status markers in PD patients.
• To establish the AFSQ as a screening tool for identifying malnutrition risk in PD patients.

Main Methods:

• Developed the Appetite and Food Satisfaction Questionnaire (AFSQ) with a hedonic scale for appetite and questions on food satisfaction.
• Assessed nutritional status using the seven-point SGA, bioelectrical impedance, anthropometry, and handgrip strength (HGS).
• Evaluated 84 PD patients, dividing them into tertiles based on AFSQ scores for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• Patients in the highest AFSQ score tertile (indicating poorer appetite/satisfaction) showed a significantly higher prevalence of malnutrition (32.1% vs. 6.7%).
• Lower handgrip strength adequacy (74.6% vs. 87.3%) and reduced body cell mass index and lean BMI were observed in the highest AFSQ score group.
• A significant correlation was found between AFSQ scores and key nutritional markers.

Conclusions:

• The AFSQ is a valid and user-friendly tool for screening PD patients at risk of malnutrition.
• Poor appetite and food satisfaction, as measured by the AFSQ, are associated with worse nutritional outcomes in PD patients.
• The AFSQ can aid clinicians in early identification and intervention for malnutrition in PD patients.