Food & Nutrition

Arab Journal of Food & Nutrition
13. A Study of Hemodialysis Patients and the Effect of Nutritional Extension on
the Nutritional Status of a Selected Sample of Them in Jordan (1994)
Andera Jalil Ayoub Sweiss\ University of Jordan
Supervised by: Dr. Flamed R. Takruri
Co-Supervised By: Dr. Yousef S. Hamzeh
This study included three parts: survey on hemodialysis patients in Jordan,
nutritional assessment of a sample of them in the kidney unit of Jordan University
Hospital, and nutrition counseling of half of those patients and studying the effect of
nutrition counseling on their nutritional status.
Data about hemodialysis patients (HDP) in Jordan were collected from all kidney
units in Jordan. The data collected included the number of hemodialysis patients, age,
sex, blood group, residency, and cause of renal failure. There were nine kidney units
until April 1992 distributed as follows: Amman 3, Irbid 2, Zarka 1, Karak 1, Maan 1,
and Aqaba 1. The total number of HDP in Jordan until April 1992 was 456 (114
patient/million population). No sex differences were detected. Children under age 19
were not a risk group whereas most HDP were concentrated in the age groups 40-49,
50-59, and 60-69. The highest proportion of patients was in Amman Governorate
followed by Irbid and Zarka governorates. In terms of number of hemodialysis patients
per 10,000 population, the highest figure was in Zarka.
The main presumed causes of chronic renal failure in HDP were chronic
glomerulonephritis (29.4%), diabetes mellitus (10.5%). Unknown causes contributed
to 28.2%. Diabetes mellitus appeared to be more important cause of chronic renal
failure in older age than other presumed causes, whereas chronic glomerulonephritis
was more important in younger age than other causes. 45% of hemodialysis patients
were in the A+ blood group, 28.9% in 0+ group and 13.3 % in the B+ group. 84% of
HDP had hepatitis B infection. The prevalence of renal failure in Jordan is relatively
high.
Twenty adult hemodialysis patients (10 males and 10 females) in the kidney unit
of JUH were assessed 4-5 weekly intervals over 3 months. The nutritional assessment
included biochemical, body weight interdialytic, weight gain, and dietary assessment.
There were significant differences between males and females (P < 0.05) regrading
energy and nutrient intake except calcium, phosphorous and water. In general, males’
intake of energy and protein was significantly higher than females, but it was low in
both sexes and it did not meet their recommended intakes.
Males’ dry body weight was 93% of their desirable body weight whereas
females’ dry body weight was 81% of their desirable body weight. Both sexes were at
risk of mild and moderate protein-energy malnutrition. Interdialytic weight gain was
high in both sexes (4.3kg ± 0.21). Hemodialysis patients had normal predialysis serum
sodium, calcium, albumin and high levels of potassium, phosphorous, magnesium,
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