Nutritional status and food insecurity in hemodialysis patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between nutrition status and food security of patients on hemodialysis (HD).

Design: A descriptive correlation study.

Setting: This study consisted of HD patients undergoing treatment at three northeast Louisiana dialysis centers.

Patients: Ninety-eight HD patients participated in the study. The mean age of subjects was 59.1 +/- 14.2 years. The sample was 44% white and 56% black; 49% male and 51% female.

Results: Multiple linear regression and chi2 analysis were used to assess relationships between demographics and food insecurity scores and Subjective Global Assessment scores. Race significantly predicted food insecurity (beta = 0.248; P = .019), with black patients being more food insecure than white subjects. A significant positive relationship was found between the level of education and Subjective Global Assessment scores (beta = 0.222; P = .037). In this sample, 16.3% of the subjects were found to be food insecure, and 64.3% of the patients were mildly to moderately malnourished, whereas another 13.3% were severely malnourished.

Conclusions: Future research in this area should include food security questions related to the ability to obtain foods for health. Renal health care professionals should assess patients for possible food insecurity so that appropriate interventions can be implemented.