Prevalence of Malnutrition Among Patients Undergoing Dialysis in Sana'a Yemen
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58963/qausrj.v30i30.329Keywords:
* Malnutrition , * Dialysis , * Chronic Kidney Disease , * Yemen , * Nutritional Assessment , * Subjective Global Assessment , * Risk FactorsAbstract
Malnutrition is a frequent and serious complication among patients undergoing dialysis, contributing substantially to increased morbidity and mortality. In Yemen, limited evidence exists regarding the nutritional status of dialysis patients, hindering the design of effective nutritional interventions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition among hemodialysis patients in selected hospitals in Sana’a, Yemen, assess their nutritional status using validated tools, and identify key factors associated with malnutrition to inform targeted clinical strategies.
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted over three months at Al-Thawra and Al-Motawakel hospitals. The study included 103 patients aged 12 years and above who had been receiving hemodialysis for at least three months. Nutritional status was evaluated using the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), while sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle characteristics were collected through structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, with chi-square tests applied to examine associations between nutritional status and selected variables (p<0.05).
Results showed that 38.8% of participants were malnourished, 33.0% were at risk, and 28.2% were well-nourished. Malnutrition was more prevalent among younger and middle-aged adults, individuals with lower educational levels, and those reporting short sleep duration (2–4 hours; p=0.003). No significant associations were observed with gender or dialysis frequency. These findings are consistent with international reports highlighting the multifactorial nature of malnutrition among dialysis patients.
Malnutrition is highly prevalent among Yemeni dialysis patients, underscoring the need for routine nutritional assessment and targeted interventions to enhance dietary management, clinical outcomes, and overall quality of life.
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