Abstract
The morbidity and mortality rates among patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remain unacceptably high in spite of recent advances in medicine and technology. Differences in patient outcomes exist among the industrialized countries, and are partly explained by variances in clinical practice. Outcomes research has been the primary methodology used to more fully investigate the root causes for practice variation. Research has established the relationships between nutritional status with morbidity and mortality. Although several nutrition parameters are prognostic indicators, they are complex to understand, and one specific measure that definitively diagnoses nutritional risk is lacking. Further scientific inquiry should explore the effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) on key nutrition-related outcomes, thereby answering some of the questions plaguing current clinical practice.