The Incidence Prognosis and Risk Factors of Cognitive Impairment in Maintenance Haemodialysis Patients

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> To investigate the incidence and the prognosis of cognitive impairment (CI) and to find out the risk factors associated with the outcome in maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Enrolled the patients who met the criteria as below: MHD (≥3 months) patients before July 2014, ≥18 years old and could carry on the cognitive function test (Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]). All enrolled patients were divided into 2 groups: CI group (MoCA &#x3c; 26) and non-CI group (MoCA ≥26). All patients were followed up for 36 months. The incidence, demography data, medical history, haemodialysis data, laboratory examination and prognosis of CI in haemodialysis patients were prospectively compared and analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors of CI. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used for survival analysis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> In the present study, 219 patients were enrolled. The ratio of male to female was 1.46: 1. Age was 60.07 ± 12.44 and dialysis vintage was 100.79 ± 70.23 months. One hundred thirteen patients’ MoCA scores were lower than 26 were divided into CI group. Education status (OR 3.428), post-dialysis diastolic pressure (OR 2.234) and spKt/V (OR 1.982) were independent risk factors for CI in MHD patients. During the follow-up period, 15 patients died (13.2%) in the CI group and 5 died (4.72%) in the non-CI group (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the survival rate of patients with CI was lower than that of non-CI group in MHD patients during 3 years follow-up (<i>p</i> = 0.046). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> CI is one of the most common complications in MHD patients. The mortality is high in patients who had CI. Education status, post-dialysis diastolic pressure and spKt/V are independent risk factors for CI in MHD patients.