Effect of Ramadan on Clinical and Biochemical Parameters among Non-fasting Hemodialysis Patients

The holy month of Ramadan brings many changes to the lifestyle of Muslims. The effect of these changes on patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is not well studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Ramadan on the clinical and metabolic profile of non-fasting patients with ESRD who were maintained on hemodialysis (HD) in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. A single-center prospective longitudinal study of patients with ESRD who were maintained on HD at a major community hospital in Eastern Saudi Arabia. The patients adopted the lifestyle and dietary changes typically associated with Ramadan in Eastern Saudi Arabia. Measurements included body weight, blood pressure, interdialytic weight gain, serum potassium, serum phosphorus, and serum albumin at the beginning and the end of Ramadan. The development of fluid overload and hyperkalemia was monitored. Seventy patients with ESRD who were maintained on HD were screened and 18 patients were identified to meet the inclusion criteria. There were no differences in patients' weight, interdialytic weight gain, or blood pressure at the beginning and end of Ramadan. Laboratory parameters, including serum potassium, serum phosphorus, and serum albumin, showed no significant changes either; and there were no emergency encounters for fluid overload or hyperkalemia. Lifestyle and dietary changes during the fasting month of Ramadan did not result in significant clinical or laboratory differences among non-fasting HD patients in Eastern Saudi Arabia.