Risk prediction models for malnutrition in dialysis patients in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Although multiple risk prediction models have been developed to identify malnutrition in dialysis patients, their quality and performance remain unclear, limiting their practicality in current clinical practice and future research. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate these models. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP Database from inception to January 26, 2026. Two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed quality using the Prediction model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST). Meta-analyses of the prevalence of malnutrition, common predictors and model performance were performed using Stata 18.0 and R 4.5.1. A total of 12 eligible studies conducted in China were included, and the pooled prevalence of malnutrition in dialysis patients was 41%. Meta-analysis identified age, serum calcium, Kt/V, triglycerides, sex, vitamin D, NT-proBNP, and comorbid diabetes as statistically significant predictors. The pooled effect of the nine internal validated models was 0.83, indicating good discriminatory performance. However, all included models were rated at high risk of bias, primarily due to inappropriate data sources and poor reporting of the analysis. The current analysis reveals a high prevalence of malnutrition among dialysis patients. Eight significant predictors were identified, guiding future selection for constructing predictive models of malnutrition risk in this population. Although existing models demonstrate adequate discriminatory performance, their methodological limitations constrain clinical applicability. Future studies should prioritize the development of standardized, externally validated models to enable early identification and intervention, thereby improving outcomes in this vulnerable group.