Abstract: Objective To assess the nutritional status by body composition monitor (BCM) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Method A total of 57 MHD patients were enrolled in this study. Their body composition and laboratory data were measured and collected. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the mean value of BMI. Fat and muscle content per body surface unit and laboratory data were then compared between the 2 groups. Result Fat content per body surface unit was higher in the high BMI group (BMI ≥21.68 kg/m2) than in the BMI low group (BMI ＜21.68 kg/m2) (t=4.327, P＜0.001); univariate regression analysis found that BMI value was positively correlated with fat content per body surface unit (r=0.588, P＜0.001). The difference in muscle content per body surface unit between high BMI group and low BMI group was statistical insignificant (t=0.892, P=0.376), and BMI value had no linear correlation with muscle content per body surface unit (r=-0.109, P=0.419). Cholesterol (t=2.882, P=0.006), triglyceride (t=2.040, P= 0.047) and hemoglobin (t=3.857, P＜0.001) were higher in the high fat content per body surface unit (≥12.29 kg/m2) group than in the low fat content per body surface unit (＜12.29 kg/m2); fat content per body surface unit was positively correlated with cholesterol (r=0.370, P=0.010), triglyceride (t=0.403, P=0.005) and hemoglobin (r=0.405, P=0.002) levels. Serum creatinine (t=2.515, P=0.015) and albumin (t=2.189, P=0.033) were higher in the high muscle content per body surface unit group (≥22.80 kg/m2) than in the low muscle content per body surface unit group (＜22.80 kg/m2); muscle content per body surface unit was positively correlated with serum creatinine (r=0.416, P=0.001) and albumin (r=0.315, P=0.018). Conclusion The nutritional status in MHD patients could be conveniently and accurately assessed by BCM.

Key words: bioelectrical impedance, body composition, BMI, Maintenance hemodialysis