Older adults on dialysis eat lower-quality diets and more ultra-processed foods than those without kidney disease

The Elder-HD group exhibited a lower total BHEI-R score compared to the Elder-Healthy group.

• Elderly patients on hemodialysis showed poorer dietary quality than those without chronic kidney disease.
• On weekdays, the Elder-HD group consumed less whole fruit, dark green vegetables, and legumes, while their intake of total cereals was higher.
• Dietary quality did not differ between dialysis and nondialysis days for the Elder-HD group, but specific food components varied.
• On dialysis days, the Elder-HD group had lower scores for whole fruit, dark green vegetables, and legumes, but higher scores for milk and dairy products.
• The Elder-HD group had a higher contribution of processed and ultraprocessed foods and a lower contribution of natural or minimally processed foods.

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