Impact of a nutritional education intervention for hemodialysis patients measured with the Malnutrition Inflammation Score and electrical bioimpedance

Abstract

Introduction: Hemodialysis patients may present alterations in body composition. Nephrology units have tools such as bioimpedance and the Malnutrition Inflammation Score (MIS) to prevent, detect and diagnose malnutrition. Objective: To assess the impact of an educational intervention on the nutritional status of hemodialysis patients using the MIS and bioimpedance. Material and Method: Quasi-experimental study carried out in 48 hemodialysis patients. Sociodemographic and clinical variables as well as patient body composition were analysed in two measurements using bioimpedance and MIS. Patients with an MIS≥6 received a nutritional intervention, with a reassessment at 6 months. Results: Mean age was 69.9±13.6 years; 29 (60.41%) were male. Patients had been on hemodialysis for a median of 24 (P25:10.3-P75:59.3) months. Patients with MIS values≥6 were 24 (50%), receiving such an educational intervention. In patients who did not receive the intervention the MIS value worsened at 6 months (3.4 vs. 5.4, p=0.002). Conclusions: People who did not receive an educational intervention worsened their nutritional outcomes compared to those who did. The importance of systematically using validated instruments such as bioimpedance and the MIS to monitor the nutritional status of hemodialysis patients should be emphasised.