Frailty and Malnutrition Among Dialysis Patients Stratified by Age: Before and After Emergence of COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: Dialysis patients are at risk of malnutrition and frailty. In our study, we aimed to reveal how the COVID-19 pandemic affects the frailty and malnutrition status in dialysis patients. Methods: Patients without COVID-19 who received regular dialysis treatment in our center were included in our study. On March 1, 2020, and June 1, 2020, frailty test, subjective global evaluation, and mini nutrition evaluation were performed. Results: A total of 137 patients were included in the study. Patients were evaluated on the March and June 2020 Fragile scale. In the frailty assessment, a significant increase in pre-frailty and frailty was found (P =.007). Significant changes were found between concomitantly measured levels of vitamin D, low-density lipoprotein, albumin, and total protein (P =.000, P =.016, P =.013, and P =.008), respectively. The patients were divided into 2 groups as under 65 years old and over 65 years old. There was a significant increase in frailty and frailty risk in frailty assessment of patients over 65 years of age (P =.031). There were no significant changes in short mini-feeding assessments and laboratory parameters. There were no significant changes in frailty assessments of patients under 65 years of age. In the subjective global assessment, there was a significant increase in mild to moderate malnutrition and severe malnutrition (P =.008). Significant changes were found between concurrently measured levels of vitamin D, low-density lipoprotein, albumin, and total protein (P =.000, P =.039, P =.029, and P =.004), respectively. Conclusion: It was concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic may increase the risk of frailty, especially in dialysis patients over 65 years of age, and may deteriorate the nutritional status in patients under 65.