Evaluation of the relationship between nutritional status and pica eating behavior and depression in patients with chronic renal failure receiving dialysis treatment

This study was conducted to determine the nutritional disorders of patients receiving dialysis treatment, and to evaluate the relationship between their nutritional status and pica eating disorder and depression. A total of 68 people aged between 19 and 70 who received dialysis treatment for at least 6 months participated in the study. A questionnaire including 24-hour dietary recall, Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS-2002), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), demographic and general health status questions were applied to the participants. In addition, participants' body weight, height, waist and hip circumference were measured and biochemical findings were taken from the patient file. According to the results of the study, the rate of participants meeting the recommended energy and protein intakes was 11.8%. The rate of eating attitude and behavior disorders was 41.2%, and the rate of pica eating disorder was 11.8%. The most consumed substance was ice (87.5%). People with pica eating disorder have been on dialysis treatment for longer than people without pica eating disorder (p=0.003). 26.5% of the participants had minimal depression, 30.9% had mild depression, 29,4% had moderate depression, and 13.2% had severe depression. According to NRS-2002 scores, 17.6% of the participants were at risk in terms of nutritional status. No significant correlation was found between pica eating disorder or depression and NRS-2002 scores (p>0.05). A positive correlation was found between the EAT-26 score and the BDI score (p=0,001). The results of this study show that the nutritional status of patients receiving dialysis treatment should be monitored and that patients are at risk for pica eating disorder and depression.. More studies are needed to understand the relationship between nutritional status and pica eating disorder and depression.