Total body nitrogen predicts long-term mortality in haemodialysis patients--a single-centre experience.

prone to patient and observer error. We have shown Results. Fifteen patients in group II died in the follow- previously that anthropometry underestimates body up period compared to nine from group I (P 50 itself was mortality in haemodialysis patients. a strong predictor of mortality (P<0.001). Conclusion. We conclude that NI0.8 is predictive of long-term mortality. This reinforces the view that low body protein stores are predictive of increased mortal- Subjects and methods ity in dialysis patients and that the serum albumin is predictive of mortality because of its reflection of The study was approved by the Human Ethics Committee protein stores. of Monash Medical Centre. Ninety-one patients on haemodialysis between 1989 and 1991 under the supervision of