Study subjects (N = 253) included patients who were categorized into well-nourished (68%, SGA score 6-7) and malnourished (score 1-5) groups, and, on the basis of the body mass index (BMI), into obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2; 35%) and nonobese (BMI < 30 kg/m2). The mean baseline data (±standard deviation) were as follows: age, 63.5 ± 14.3 years; BMI, 29 ± 8 kg/m2; and serum albumin, 3.8 ± 0.4 mg/dL (bromocresol green). The secondary analysis of data from the SGA Validation Project and Nutrition Algorithm Preliminary Report determined the relationship between the 7-point SGA and serum albumin concentrations in a sample of obese HD patients. Data were analyzed at Case Western Reserve University from a total of 253 HD patients.
The SGA scores in the BMI groups were compared with serum albumin as an objective measure of nutrition and inflammation risk.
By using analysis of variance, the obese and nonobese populations showed statistically significant differences in SGA scores (obese: P < .3468, nonobese: P < .0080) and serum albumin values (obese, P < .0943; nonobese, P < .0183) between well-nourished and malnourished groups. A multivariable nominal logistic fit was used to predict SGA group with age and gender as covariates. Serum albumin values (P < .0057) and BMI values greater than 30 (P < .0090) predicted SGA group.
The secondary analysis showed that SGA does not correlate well with serum albumin; thus, it may not be a valid nutrition assessment tool among obese HD patients.