Nutritional Predictors of Mortality in Long Term Hemodialysis Patients

Serum albumin had been noted to be a predictor of mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) less than 0.8 or greater than 1.4 g/kg/d was also associated with greater mortality. There was no previous study to show the effectiveness of combination of serum albumin and nPCR to predict the mortality in chronic HD patients. Eight hundred and sixty-six patients were divided into 4 groups according to their nPCR and serum albumin levels. Biochemical, and hematological parameters were recorded. The associations between groups, variables mentioned above and mortality were analyzed. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age, diabetes mellitus, fistula as blood access, nPCR <1.2 g/kg/day combined with albumin <4 (Group A), nPCR >= 1.2 g/kg/day combined with albumin <4 g/dL (Group B) (nPCR >= 1.2 g/kg/day combined with Albumin >= 4 g/dL as reference group), non-anuria, hemoglobin, creatinine, and log (high sensitivity C reactive protein) were correlated with 36 months mortality. Group A and group B patients had higher 36 months cardiovascular (CV) and infection related mortality rates as compared with group D patients. In conclusion, Group A and Group B patients had significantly higher rate of all-cause, CV and infection related mortality.