Concurrent and Predictive Validity of Composite Methods to Assess Nutritional Status in Older Adults on Hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the performance of subjective global assessment (SGA), malnutrition inflammation score (MIS), and mini nutritional assessment short-form (MNA-SF) in older adults on hemodialysis (HD) by evaluating their concurrent and predictive validity.

DESIGN

An observational and prospective study including older adults on HD.

SETTING

Six dialysis units.

SUBJECTS

We assessed 137 HD patients aged ≥60 years (71.7% male, 70.2 ± 7.2 years).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The nutritional status was assessed by 7-point SGA, MIS and MNA-SF, and by objective methods. Patients were followed up for 14.5 (8; 26.3) months (median and interquartile) to assess survival.

RESULTS

Protein energy wasting (PEW) was present in 63% of the patients when assessed by SGA, in 77% by MIS, and in 26% by MNA-SF. Most objective parameters of patients classified with PEW were lower (P < .05) than those from patients classified as well-nourished by SGA, MIS, and MNA-SF. In addition, the hazard of death was higher for patients classified as PEW by SGA (hazard ratio 2.63 [95% confidence interval 1.14-6.00]), MIS (5.13 [1.19-13.7]), and MNA-SF (2.53 [1.34-4.77]) in comparison to well-nourished patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of PEW varied depending on the tool applied. SGA, MIS, and MNA-SF had good concurrent and predictive validity for the assessment of nutritional status, but SGA and MIS were likely to perform better than MNA-SF.