Loneliness: An Overlooked Contributing Factor in Anorexia of Older Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease and Focal Point for Interventions to Enhance Nutritional Status-An Overview of Evidence and Areas of Suggested Research

Abstract

Although research has shown that loneliness can contribute to anorexia in older non-ESRD (end-stage renal disease) populations, and the benefits of its mitigation with improving appetite, nutrient, and caloric intake, its implications for older patients with ESRD have been overlooked. This article provides an overview of evidence on the potential contributing role of loneliness in anorexia of older patients with ESRD, and loneliness as a focal point for interventions to help improve nutritional status. Areas of needed research are suggested in the course of the analysis. With a 41%-83% projected rise in the prevalence of patients in the United States with ESRD by 2030, and demographic population trends showing that an ever-increasing number will be living alone, there is a long overdue need to better understand the implications of loneliness for this nutritionally vulnerable population. KEYWORDS: Chronic kidney disease; loneliness; anorexia; malnutrition; protein energy wasting.