Assessment of malnutrition risk and analysis of influencing factors in patients with chronic kidney disease: A cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the status of malnutrition risk in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) using objective nutritional indices and to analyze the influencing factors.

METHODS

1277 patients with CKD admitted to the Department of Nephrology at a Class A hospital in Nanjing from 2020 to 2022, were selected for this study. The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) were used to evaluate the risk of malnutrition. Logistic regression analysis identified associated risk factors.

RESULTS

Among the 1277 CKD patients, malnutrition risk was identified in 89.1% by PNI and 87.7% by CONUT, with moderate consistency between the two methods (0.368). Patients at moderate to high malnutrition risk experienced longer hospital stays. Across both assessment tools, higher CKD stage (≥ 4), older age, elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine, and lower body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin (Hb), and lipid levels were associated with greater risk. Logistic regression analysis identified CKD stage, age, Hb, and BUN as risk factors in the PNI model, while age, BMI, and BUN were significant in the CONUT assessment.

CONCLUSION

CKD Patients face a high risk of malnutrition, emphasizing the need for regular screening and assessment. Understanding and addressing the identified risk factors through targeted interventions is crucial for improving patient outcomes.