Is energy intake underreported in hemodialysis patients?

INTRODUCTION Underreporting of energy intake is not much studied in hemodialysis population. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the underreporting of energy intake and associated factors in hemodialysis patients. METHODS A cross-sectional study, with 344 patients stable adults, of ten hemodialysis centers in Goiânia-GO. Energy intake was assessed by six 24-hour dietary recalls and basal metabolic rate (BMR) was estimated using the Harris Benedict equation. It was considered as underreporting when the ratio between the average energy intake and basal metabolic rate was lower than1.27. For analysis of factors associated with underreporting, the Poisson regression with robust variance estimation was applied. RESULTS The prevalence of underreporting was 65.7%, being more significant in individuals who are overweight and in the non dialysis days. The result of the multivariate analysis identified four factors independently associated with the underreporting: being a female (PR = 1.27, CI = 1.10 to 1.46), body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2 (PR = 1.29, CI = 1.12 to 1.48), three meals or lower/day (PR = 1.31, CI = 1.14 to 1.51) and hemodialysis length lower than 5 years (PR = 1.19CI = 1.01 to 1.40). CONCLUSION The population showed a high prevalence of underreporting of energy intake. Being a female, presenting overweight, lower number of meals/day and lower length time on hemodialysis were factors associated with underreporting.