Nutrition, Food Intake during First Year of Dialysis Is Important for Patient Survival

Among 251 dialysis patients who survived at least 1 year after dialysis onset and were followed for 44.9 months, the secondary target weight change during the first year (calculated after the initial phase of fluid removal) was a strong predictor of survival. The 2 groups above and below the median of the secondary target weight change were not different according to age, diabetes, or cardiovascular history, but those above the median had a significant higher interdialytic weight gain and protein intake. The Nephron Clinical Practicefindings highlight the importance of nutrition and food intake in the first year of dialysis.