Abstract
Poor appetite and gastrointestinal symptoms are common amongst dialysis patients. Often, this can lead to protein energy wasting, malnutrition and adverse outcomes. This study attempted to investigate the occurrence of these symptoms in haemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD5-ND) and control participants. There were 306 participants in this study; 106 HD, 50 PD, 50 CKD5-ND and 100 control participants. Gastrointestinal symptoms were experienced by 81%, 72% and 51% of all End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), CKD5-ND and control patients respectively (p<0.05). Poor appetite was reported by 10%, 26% and 1% of ESRD, CKD5-ND and control patients respectively (p<0.05). HD patients experienced more abdominal pain than PD patients and CKD5-ND patients were more likely to have dysgeusia. The occurrence of GI symptoms was not related to clinical variables (serum haemoglobin, albumin, urea and creatinine) but poor appetite was significantly associated to lower levels of serum urea and creatinine in dialysis patients (p<0.05). The presence of diabetes mellitus was associated with the development of GI symptoms, but not hypertension. This study has raised awareness of the varied demographics of patients with poor appetite and gastrointestinal symptoms and measures have been implemented to improve appetite and gastrointestinal symptoms through focused and concerted efforts by doctors, nurses, nutritionists and dieticians. It is hoped that such measures might be beneficial in improving long term prognosis and quality of life of dialysis and CKD patients.
Highlights
Patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) frequently complain of poor appetite and gastrointestinal symptoms
The occurrence of GI symptoms was not related to clinical variables but poor appetite was significantly associated to lower levels of serum urea and creatinine (Table 4)
This study showed that ESRD and CKD5-ND patients were more likely to experience poor appetite and GI symptoms than controls
Summary
Patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) frequently complain of poor appetite and gastrointestinal symptoms. Patients with poor appetite have been linked with protein energy wasting (PEW) [1] and poor long term outcomes [2,3]. Inclusion criteria for the study include patients with ESRD who were undergoing HD or PD from the National Dialysis Centre. CKD5-ND patients were recruited from our CKD clinics of the tertiary teaching hospital were invited to participate in the study. Exclusion criteria include patients less than 18 years of age, with a strong history of non-compliance with medication and treatment, with recent hospitalization (within 3 months) and have evidence of recent active infections (including bacterial and viral). Age and gender matched controls were family members or carers that accompanied the patients to dialysis centres and outpatient clinics. The study was conducted through a face-to-face interview to ensure that patients understood the questions and that immediate help could be obtained for them if the symptoms were deemed severe enough
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
