Body mass index for chronic hemodialysis patients: Three-year mortality analysis

We examined the effect of body mass index (BMI) in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD) on the three-year mortality. The three-year mortality rate of outpatients undergoing chronic HD (n=258; 144men) was determined. BMI was examined at the beginning of this study. Two male patients were excluded due to BMI alteration greater than 1 during the study period. Patients were subdivided according to undergoing gender, age (below 60 or more than 60 years old), dialysis duration below 5 years or more than 5 years the primary disease, and the stability of dialysis. In patients under 60 years of age, the mortality rate was lowest at a BMI of approximately 20, regardless of gender, HD duration and HD control. However, a lower BMI was associated with a greater mortality rate in patients 60 years old or older. Patients under 60 years of age, relative risk of mortality was affected by BMI, primary disease (diabetes mellitus) and stability of HD. For the older patients group, the relative risk of mortality was influenced by BMI and the age (the older, the worse). The implications of BMI on the results of HD should be considered separately for younger and older patients.