Malnutrition, inflammation and other risk factors for cardio vascular disease in patients on peritoneal dialysis.

by Lima Gusmão, Maria Helena

To assess the association between malnutrition, inflammation and other risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in patients under continuous peritoneal dialysis. This is a cross-sectional study comprising 61 patients under continuous peritoneal dialysis in two dialysis units in Salvador (Bahia, Brazil). Nutritional status was evaluated by Global Subjective Assessment and inflammation was determined by Ultra Sensitive C-Reactive Protein levels. Traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as sex, age, alcohol intake, smoking, sedentary lifestyles, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and food habits, as well as non-traditional ones, such as disturbed calcium and phosphorus metabolism and anemia, were investigated. Malnutrition was found in 36% of the patients in the population under study whereas inflammation was present in 49.2% of them. Patients with both malnutrition and inflammation were shown to comprise 21.3% of the sample. Ultra Sensitive C-Reactive Protein levels were found to be higher (p=0.04) among malnourished patients when compared to those with good nutritional status. No association was shown between malnutrition in the presence of inflammation and other risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Malnutrition and inflammation are still frequent occurrences among patients in the population in CPD. Despite their concomitant occurrence, there is no association between malnutrition in the presence of inflammation and other risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.