Assessment of nutritional status in hemodialysis patients using patient-generated subjective global assessment

Objective

To evaluate the scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) as a nutrition assessment tool in hemodialysis patients.

Design

A cross-sectional observational study assessing the nutritional status of hemodialysis patients.

Setting

Private tertiary Australian hospital.

Subjects

Sixty patients, ages 63.9 ± 16.2 years.

Intervention

Scored PG-SGA questionnaire, comparison of PG-SGA score ≥9 with subjective global assessment (SGA), albumin, corrected arm muscle area, and triceps skinfold.

Results

According to SGA, 80% of patients were well nourished and 20% of patients were malnourished. Patients classified as well nourished (SGA-A) attained a significantly lower median PG-SGA score compared with those rated as moderately malnourished or at risk of malnutrition (SGA-B). A PG-SGA score ≥9 had a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 92% at predicting SGA classification. There were significant correlations between the PG-SGA score and serum albumin, PG-SGA score, and percentage weight loss over the past 6 months. There was no association between PG-SGA score and body mass index or anthropometric measurements.

Conclusion

The scored PG-SGA is an easy-to-use nutrition assessment tool that allows quick identification of malnutrition in hemodialysis patients.