Assessment of Energy and Protein Intake and Some of the Related Factors in Hemodialysis Patients Referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital

Protein-energy malnutrition is one of the most prevalent complications in hemodialysis patients and is directly associated with low quality of life in these patients. This study was performed to evaluate energy and protein intake and some related factors in hemodialysis patients referred to Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran. This cross-sectional study was performed on 114 hemodialysis patients. A twenty four hour recall for 3 days was used to evaluate the patients’ diet. Food Processor II (FP II) was employed to calculate the amount of energy and protein intake, defined in comparison with the dietary allowance of hemodialysis patients. Energy and protein intakes per day were below those than recommended in 94.1% and 86.1% of the hemodialysis patients studied, respectively. There was a significant negative relationship between age and energy intake (r=-0.3, P=0.002). Mean energy and protein intakes in men (1320±63.58 Kcal/day, 54.81±2.25 g/day, respectively) were significantly higher than in women (982.63±51.8 Kcal/day, 43.57±2.6 g/day, respectively) (P=0.001 and P=0.004, respectively). Mean energy and protein intake did not differ significantly between the two groups with dialysis duration less and/or more than 3 years, and between the groups with and/or without comorbidity. According to the present study, protein-energy malnutrition had a very high prevalence in hemodialysis patients studied.