Utility of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria for the nutritional assessment of patients with end-stage renal disease receiving chronic hemodialysis

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is associated with adverse outcomes in patients on chronic haemodialysis. Thus, identifying accurate methods for diagnosing malnutrition is essential. The present retrospective study investigated the utility of the new Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis. Methods: Phase angle and fat-free mass index (FFMI) were derived using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Malnutrition was determined when the subjects had at least one phenotypic criterion (weight loss, low body mass index [BMI] or FFMI). Results: This study included 103 patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis and 46 (44.7%) patients were diagnosed as malnourished. Malnutrition determined using the GLIM criteria was associated with increased risks of all-cause death (hazard ratio = 3.0, p = 0.044) and infection requiring hospitalisation (hazard ratio = 2.4, p = 0.015), independent of age, sex and comorbidities. However, malnutrition was not related to major adverse cardiovascular events (p = 0.908). We further evaluated the longitudinal changes in phenotypic parameters. Subjects with median levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein exceeding 5 mg L–1 exhibited decreased body weight and BMI (p = 0.015 and 0.016, respectively). In addition, body weight, BMI and FFMI were reduced in subjects with a median protein catabolic rate of < 1.0 mg kg–1 day–1, even after adjustment for age, sex and comorbidities (p = 0.026, 0.053 and 0.039, respectively). Conclusions: Malnutrition assessed using the GLIM criteria could be a useful predictor of mortality and infection in patients on chronic haemodialysis. To improve nutritional status, approaches for decreasing inflammation and increasing protein intake are needed. © 2022 The British Dietetic Association Ltd.