Background: Increased malnutrition risk has been observed in more than 40% people on haemodialysis in Israel. It is not clear that this risk is homogeneously distributed among people with versus without diabetes.
Objectives: To examine the influence of diabetes on malnutrition risk among people on haemodialysis.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included a representative sample of 375 individuals on haemodialysis treated in hospital dialysis centres throughout Israel. Of these, 126 had diabetes. Dietary intake, biochemistry, anthropometric and hemodynamic measures were recorded. Malnutrition risk categories were defined: "minimal": body mass index (BMI) ≥23 kg/m2 and serum albumin ≥38 mmol/L; "mild": BMI <23 kg/m2 and albumin ≥38 mmol/L; "moderate": BMI ≥23 kg/m2 and albumin <38 mmol/L; "severe": BMI<23 k/m2 and serum albumin <38 mmol/L. These categories were dichotomized to "minimal" versus elevated malnutrition risk.
Results: Despite greater BMI, elevated malnutrition risk was identified in 58.8% of individuals with versus 39.3% without diabetes. Adherence to International Society for Renal Nutrition and Metabolism nutrition guidelines was poor regardless of diabetes status. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, diabetes: OR 2.15; C-reactive protein (nmol/L): OR 1.02; delivered dialysis dose (Kt/V): OR 6.07; and haemoglobin (g/L): OR 0.79, predicted elevated malnutrition risk, even after controlling for age, sex and years on haemodialysis.
Discussion: Individuals on haemodialysis who have diabetes have elevated malnutrition risk compared to those without diabetes despite greater BMI.
Keywords: diabetes; diet and nutrition; epidemiology; haemodialysis; obesity.
© 2021 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Diabetes UK.