Journal of Clinical & Experimental Nephrology

IMPACT OF FASTING DURING THE MONTH OF RAMADAN ON THE CLINICAL AND ANTHOPOMETRIC PARAMETERS OF CHRONIC HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS AT THE THIES REGIONAL HOSPITAL CENTER

Introduction: Although there are clear instructions regarding the exemption from fasting for those who are sick or likely to suffer from fasting, a significant number of patients decide to fast regardless of medical or religious advice. This poses a particular challenge for physicians treating patients with CKD. Few studies have evaluated the impact of fasting in patients with CKD. Few studies have evaluated the impact of fasting in patients with CKD. To our knowledge, no studies have been conducted in Senegal that evaluated fasting in chronic hemodialysis patients. The aim of our work was to evaluate the changes in clinical and anthropometric parameters of fasting patients before and after Ramadan. Patients and method: This was a prospective, descriptive, and analytical study running from March 20 to April 24, 2023 in patients with chronic renal failure who were regularly hemodialyzed in the nephrology and dialysis department of the Thiès regional hospital. All participants signed a free and informed consent form. The data studied were age, sex, socioeconomic level, comorbidities, fasting concept, number of days fasting, weight, BMI, upper arm circumference, BP, dialysis parameters (PRU, Kt/V, incidents/ accidents, etc.). Anthropometric data on body fat percentage, visceral mass level, and skeletal muscle percentage were collected using an Omron Healthcare BF511 body composition analyzer impedance meter scale. We measured these parameters one week before Ramadan and one week after Ramadan, and then we compared these data in each group of patients (fasters and nonfasters). Then we analyzed the differences in variations between the two groups of patients. A difference was statistically significant when the p value < 0.05. Data entry and analysis were performed using Epi Info version 7 software. Results: Of 52 chronic hemodialysis patients, 12 had fasted during the month of Ramadan (23.1%) with 15 ± 7.1 days of fasting on average. The mean age of the patients was 47.0 ± 12.0 years with a male predominance of 55.8%. Hypertensive nephropathy was the main initial nephropathy in 51.9%. In the fasting group as in the nonfasting group, no statistically significant differences were found in relation to the clinical and anthropometric data before Ramadan and after Ramadan. No impact of fasting on dialysis parameters was found in the 2 groups of patients. When comparing data variations between the fasting patient group and the non-fasting patient group, there was a statistically significant decrease in post-dialysis Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) in faster people compared to nonfasters (p = 0.039). Conclusion: Fasting during the month of Ramadan has no negative impact on the clinical, anthropometric and dialysis parameters of chronic hemodialysis patients. A national-scale study that includes biological data must be carried out for a better assessment.

Author(s): Ameth Dieng*, Mamadou Aw Ba, Aime Gomintan, Mame Selly Diawara, Mouhamadou Moustapha Cisse

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