Nutritional assessment and its relationship with food consumption of children and adolescents with Chronic Kidney Disease undergoing hemodialysis

Abstract

Objective: To verify the association between nutritional status, measured using anthropometry, and food consumption of children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. Methods: Cross-sectional study with children and adolescents on hemodialysis (n=16) at a university hospital in São Luís, Maranhão. Sociodemographic, clinical, anthropometric, and food consumption data were collected through a 24-hour dietary recall. Data were presented in relative and absolute frequencies for qualitative variables and measures of central tendency for quantitative variables. Results: Most of the population presented compromised height/age (62.4%), thinness (43.2%), in addition to nutritional alterations in arm circumference (75%), triceps skinfold (56.2%), and arm muscle circumference (68.7%). Protein intake was excessive in 100% of cases, while 37.5% had adequate caloric intake. No significant association was observed between caloric and protein intake with the anthropometric variables analyzed. Conclusion: The findings indicate a high prevalence of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition in children and adolescents on hemodialysis, even with adequate or high intake of calories and proteins. There was no significant association between nutritional status and food consumption. The results reinforce the need for further research on the nutritional demands of this population.