Nutritional Assessment in Kidney Diseases

Abstract

The incidence and prevalence of chronic kidney disases is increasing globally. According to the data of the Turkish Nephrology Society, end stage renal disease (ESRD) incidence was increased two times and prevalence was increased five times in the last 10 years in Turkey. Uremia decreases appetite and causes reduced food intake that is related with its negative effects on the gastrointestinal system function metabolic asidosis, endocrine factors, uremic toxicity, induction of protein catabolism, etc. Protein energy malnutrition(PEM) is an important problem in ESRD. PEM rates of the hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients are 18-75% and 10-50%, respectively. Protein energy malnutrition in ESRD is strongly related with increased morbidity and mortality. As a result of the frequency of malnutrition, periodic assessment of nutritional status should be part of the routine care of kidney patients to permit early recognition and the institution of appropriate therapy. In this review article, we focus on nutritional assessment in chronic kidney disease.