Habitual Dietary Patterns of Maintenance Haemodialysis Patients and the Relationship Between Malnutrition Risk-A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Diet Survey

Aims: To identify habitual dietary patterns in maintenance haemodialysis patients and analyse their association with malnutrition.

Design and methods: A multicentre cross-sectional dietary survey was conducted among 232 maintenance haemodialysis patients from three centres. A 3-day 24-h diet recall and demographic, clinical and therapeutic information were collected. Factor analysis was used to identify the major dietary patterns among haemodialysis patients. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between dietary patterns and malnutrition risk.

Results: Three dietary patterns were identified in this study and differed in age, gender and diabetes. An 'animal foods and refined grains' dietary pattern meets guideline requirements. A 'fresh fruits and nuts' dietary pattern had insufficient daily energy and protein intake with the lowest carbohydrates, lipids and minerals intake among haemodialysis patients. A 'dairy products' dietary pattern characterised by low calorie and moderate protein was found to be associated with malnutrition.

Conclusions: Habitual dietary patterns of maintenance haemodialysis patients were associated with personal characteristics, specifically age, gender and diabetes. Patients with habitual 'dairy products' dietary patterns may have poor nutritional status.

Practical applications: Educating haemodialysis patients about their daily diet pattern, rather than focusing on nutrients, is crucial and will help them to understand it better. Clinical staff can recognise patients at risk of malnutrition by a dietary pattern of lower intake of certain foods. They can recommend a balanced nutritional pattern that increases calories in the total diet and meets protein requirements.