Effect of the Dietary Protein Intake on Urea Reduction Rate in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis in Merjan Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) constitutes a major health problem worldwide. The mainstay of nutritional treatment in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis is the provision of an adequate amount of protein and energy. Objective: The present study aims to assess the correlation of protein consumption with dialysis adequacy in patients on hemodialysis. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dialysis Unit of Merjan Hospitals, Babil Governorate, Iraq on 64 hemodialysis patients from April to August 2021. The tools used for the data collection were anthropometry, medical information, and 24-h dietary recalls. A descriptive analysis was performed. Results: The food intake was evaluated and compared with the recommended intake. The patients’ average energy intake was 18.7 ± 7.2 kcal/kg/day, which represents 53.4% of the recommended daily energy intake for dialysis patients. About 75% of the consumed energy was provided by carbohydrates, 12.2% was provided by fats, and the rest 14.6 was provided by protein. The average dietary intake of protein was 0.71 ± 0.29 g/kg/day. Only 7.8% of the patients had met the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of protein intake. In the study sample, the measures of the delivered dose of hemodialysis therapy are directly correlated to the amount of consumed protein per kilogram body weight. But this correlation is only significant for patients who consume 1.2 g/kg body weight or less. Conclusion: The energy and protein intake were significantly low when compared with specific recommendations for individuals in hemodialysis; a dietician has an important role in providing nutritional education to the patients to improve the nutrient intake.