Abstract

Undernutrition and iron deficiency in hemodialysis patients are associated with a high risk of mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of biochemical markers of protein undernutrition and iron deficiency in hemodialysis patients. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with data collected from January 1, 2022 to February 28, 2022. The study included hemodialysis patients who did not present with an inflammatory syndrome (chronic renal failure [CRP] < 5 mg/L) at the Souro Sanou University Hospital (SS-UH). The parameters measured in the biochemistry laboratory included CRP, prealbumin, albumin, alpha-1-glycoprotein, haptoglobin, transferrin, ferritin, serum iron, and transferrin saturation coefficient (TSC). A total of 41 hemodialysis patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 42.93±12.21 years. The patients were predominantly male, with a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.56. Glomerular filtration rate was <15 ml/min/1.73 m² in 85.37% of patients. All biochemical markers were impaired; however, the major disorders included 2.44% hypoalbuminemia, 2.44% hypoprealbuminemia, 73.17% hyposideremia, 85% hypotransferrinemia, and a drop in TSC in 39.03% of patients. The incidence of undernutrition was 4.88%, while iron deficiency was present in 39.03% of patients. The management of inflammation, undernutrition, and iron deficiency should be integrated into the overall therapeutic strategy for CKD hemodialysis patients.

Key words: Hemodialysis, malnutrition, iron deficiency, inflammation.