Individualized nutritional support ameliorates protein-energy wasting in patients with maintenance hemodialysis: A single-center experience

Objective: To evaluate the effect of individualized nutritional support on protein -energy malnutrition in patients with maintenance hemodialysis Design: Retrospective study Setting: Department of Nephrology, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University Subjects: Maintenance hemodialysis patients Interventions: Patients with regular nutritional support received routine nursing and nutritional guidance, while patients with individualized nutritional support had personalized nursing plan with particular emphasis on proper protein intake and restrictions on sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus intake. Main outcome measures: Patients' dietary behavior management scores, electrolyte levels and nutritional status indicators at three months post -nursing were compared. Results: After nursing, the scores of self -care, liquid control, low -salt diet, low -potassium diet, and adherence in times of particular difficulty in patients with individualized nutritional support were significantly higher than those with regular nutritional support (P<0.001). Moreover, compared to patients with regular nursing, patients with individualized nutritional support had lower levels of serum calcium, phosphorus and potassium (P<0.001), and their nutrition status indicators, including triceps skinfold thickness, upper arm circumference, levels of albumin and hemoglobin were significantly improved (P<0.001). Conclusion: These data demonstrate that individualized nutritional intervention can effectively regulate diet behaviors of patients, correct the water -electrolyte disorder, and ameliorate protein -energy wasting in patients with maintenance hemodialysis. Further clinical trials addressing long-term impacts of individualized nutrition intervention on patients with maintenance hemodialysis are warranted.