A  Comparison of Three Nutritional Assessment Tools in Predicting Nutritional- Related Clinical Outcomes Among Renal Patients at The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Marina Aferiba  Tandoh; Lydia  Manu; Odeafo   Asamoah-Boakye; Samuel Selorm Attu; Justina  Owusu

Marina Aferiba Tandoh Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3581-8879
Lydia Manu Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4250-1727
Odeafo Asamoah-Boakye Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8040-9396
Samuel Selorm Attu Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6284-1476
Justina Owusu University of Ghana https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0974-1417

Keywords: Malnutrition, Renal impairment, Nutritional assessment, Ghana

Abstract

Renal impairment (RI) is a prevalent condition characterised by suboptimal kidney function, often leading to undernutrition and significant metabolic disturbances. The global rise in RI, especially in developing countries, highlights the need for effective nutritional assessment tools. A cross- sectional descriptive study was conducted at the Nephrology Unit of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Ghana to compare the effectiveness of three nutritional assessment tools – the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), and Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) – in predicting nutritional-related clinical outcomes among 110 renal patients. Nutritional status was assessed using the MNA, SGA, and MUST tools. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23. The study found that 49.1% of patients were malnourished according to the MNA, compared to 16.4% by MUST and 12.7% by SGA. Significant associations were observed between the MNA scores and clinical outcomes such as declined food intake, weight- change, and BMI. The MNA showed superior predictive capability for these outcomes compared to the SGA and MUST. There was a significant gender and age difference in nutritional status, with female patients and those aged 51-60 years being at higher risk of malnutrition. The MNA was found to be the most effective tool in predicting nutritional-related clinical outcomes in renal patients, supporting its use in clinical settings for early identification and intervention. Regular training of healthcare professionals in using the MNA is recommended to enhance early detection and management of malnutrition, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Author Biographies

Marina Aferiba Tandoh, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana

Dr. Marina Aferiba Tandoh is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, KNUST, Ghana. She has a BSc. In Biochemistry from KNUST, an MPhil in Dietetics from the University of Ghana, and a PhD in Foods and Nutrition from the University of Georgia, U.S.A. Her research interests include issues of nutritional anaemias, non-communicable diseases, dietetics, global health and nutrition education across the life-cycle.

Lydia Manu, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana

Lydia Manu has an MPhil in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, KNUST. Her research interest is in renal health and nutrition.

Odeafo Asamoah-Boakye, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana

Odeafo Asamoah-Boakye loves research and publishing research data in the field of nutrition
and dietetics, biochemistry, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension,
cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. He also has research interest in maternal and child
nutrition, adolescent nutrition and dietary practices and public health nutrition as a whole.

Samuel Selorm Attu, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana

Samuel Selorm Attu served as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at KNUST. His expertise includes Social Behavior Change Communication, with a focus on Infant and Young Child Feeding practices, parental knowledge, and their impact on hemoglobin levels in children aged 6-23 months.

Justina Owusu, University of Ghana

Dr. Justina Serwaah Owusu is a lecturer at the Nutrition and Food Science Department at the University of Ghana. Her research interest spans capacity assessment and building and evaluating malnutrition programs and interventions to improve the quality of life in non-communicable diseases.