Abstract:
Background: Protein energy wasting is a major issue in patients with chronic kidney disease
(CKD), adversely affecting morbidity, mortality, functional activity and quality of life.
Assessment of nutritional status in CKD patients is important to ensure patients normal protein
stores and avoid metabolic complications. However, in Ethiopia there are very few studies that
have assessed prevalence of Protein energy wasting (PEW) and its associated factors among
CKD patients. Objectives: To assess protein energy wasting and associated factors among
chronic kidney disease patients at adult OPD St. Paulo’s Hospital Millennium Medical College,
Addis Ababa Ethiopia, March1 to April15, 2019.
Methods: An institution based cross sectional study was conducted from March to April 2019.
Data were collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaire, anthropometric
measurements and laboratory data were collected from patient files. The subjective global
assessment tool was used to collect additional nutritional related data. Data were entered to Epidata version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Both bi-variate and multivariable logistic
regression analysis was performed to identify associated factors. P values <0.05 was considered
to declare statistical significance.
Results: The prevalence of protein energy wasting in CKD patients was 23.4%. Patients who
were advised to reduced salt consumption by a doctor were 76% less likely to have protein
energy wasting compared to those who were not advised to reduced salt consumption
[AOR=0.24,95% CI:(0.06, 0.92)]. Odds of PEW among chronic kidney patients who were at
CKD stage 4 and 5 was 2.2 times higher than odds of PEW among patients at stages 1-3
[AOR=2.2,95% (CI:1.01, 4.8)]. Furthermore, as subjective global assessment score increase by
one unity the odds of having PEW was1.24 times higher. Conclusion: The prevalence of protein
energy wasting among CKD patients was high and associated with CKD stages, subjective
global assessment score and advised to reduce salt consumption. Interventions that address
nutritional problems and lifestyle factors in CKD patients need to be implemented together with
medical treatment.
