Comparison between some anthropometric measurements in adequately treated peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients.

Some anthropometric measurements are usually used to estimate the nutritional status of dialysis patients. The aim of our study was the comparison of some anthropometric measurements in patients adequately (from the clinical point of view) treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD). The study was performed on 40 chronic dialysis (both: PD and HD), non-diabetic patients, without any inflammatory process. The patients were divided into two groups, 20 patients in each: I peritoneal dialysis patients (PD-pts), II--hemodialysis patients (HD-pts). In each patient body mass index (BMI), total body water (TBW), lean body mass (LBM), fat body mass (FBM), upper limb musculature (ULM), mid arm circumference in tension and in rest MAC-t and MAC-r), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) and dialysis index (Kt/V) were determined. The obtained values were analyzed statistically and compared between the groups. In peritoneal dialysis the patients' higher values of BMI, FBM, MAC and TSF (p < 0.01), as well as higher LBM and ULM (p < 0.05) than those in hemodialysis patients were observed. TBW was not statistically different in the PD and HD patients (p > 0.05). Mean Kt/V values observed were as follows: 2.16 +/- 0.48 in PD patients vs 1.05 +/- 0.35 in the HD patients; (p < 0.01). We conclude that adequately treated, from the clinical point of view the PD patients had better anthropometric indicators of nutritional status than the adequately treated HD patients.