Subjective global assessment (SGA) does not correlate with routine biochemical markers in evaluating nutrition in hemodialysis (HD) patients (PTS).
ASN 30th Annual Meeting, San Antonio
J Am Soc Nephrol (Sep) 8:185A 1997
SGA is a structured assessment of the nutritional status based on a concentrated history and physical examination [1,2]. Five features of the history are elicited, the amount and pattern of weight loss in the previous six months, changes in dietary intake, gastrointestinal symptoms, functional capacity or energy level and metabolic demands of the patient's condition. The features in the physical examination are loss of subcutaneous fat, muscle wasting, edema and ascites.
In this study a trained rater evaluated SGA in 128 HD-patients (mean age 51 y, range 19-87, 26% diabetics). The authors found no correlation between the SGA and the biochemical markers evaluated (BUN, s-creatinine, s-albumin, s-cholesterol, hematocrit, Kt/V and protein catabolic rate).
Comment: The study confirms that there is no sensitive biochemical marker of nutritional status. Hypoalbuminemia is a late manifestation of malnutrition. The SGA rating is a sensitive tool to identify malnourished patients and is the method of choice for nutritional assessment in clinical studies. (Peter F. Barany, M.D., Stockholm, Sweden)
1. Baker JP, Detsky AS, Wesson DE, et al. Nutritional assessment: A comparison of clinical judgement and objective measurements. N Engl J Med 1982; 306: 969-972.
2. Detsky AS, McLaughlin JR, Baker JP, et al. What is subjective global assessment of nutritional status? J Parenter Enter Nutr 1987; 11: 8-13.
To go back use the BACK button on your browser. Otherwise click on the desired link to this article below:
ASN 30th Annual Meeting, San Antonio
CRF by organ system : Nutrition