Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the dietary intake of female patients with renal failure in Al-Hassa Province, east of Saudi Arabia, and to study the effect of some variables on dietary intake of the patients. The study included 85 volunteers female with renal failure, from three Hemodialysis (HD) centers during seven-months period study from May to November, 2013. The data was analyzed by SPSS, ver. 17 Program. The results showed that daily dietary intake of most nutrients were low specially energy (932.2 +/- 345.2kcal), protein (36 +/- 14.8g), fat (28.8 +/- 15.2g), calcium (290.8 +/- 206.7mg), phosphorus (558.3 +/- 301.8mg), vitamins A (252.6 +/- 188.7mg), C (19.5 +/- 22.9mg), B1 (0.6 +/- 1.0mg) B2 (0.7 +/- 0.6mg) respectively, and fiber (5.5 +/- 3.1g). Dietary intake of some nutrients were significantly affected by some variables (like age, educational level, nutritional knowledge, BMI, number of HD and family income level), whereas some variables did not have an effect on dietary intake (like social status, Place of residence and onset of HD). The results also showed that the age of 76.5% of patients were >= 40 years, 32.9% were overweight and 35.3% obese, all of patients are sedentary and light active, 62.4% were illiterate and the level of nutritional knowledge of 30.6% of the patients were low. The onset of HD for 65% of female patients with renal failure was <= 3 years, and 91.8% of the patients undergoing HD three times weekly. Based on these results, the study recommends hospitals administration to organize continuous classes in order to educate patients with chronic renal failure who need hemodialysis about correct nutrition, in addition periodic nutrition consultations with dietician and provision of a detailed diet plan for each patient is very helpful.