Cognitive-Psychomotor Functions and Nutritional Status in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: Are They Related?

• Published in: Therapeutic apheresis and dialysis Vol. 15; no. 6; pp. 532 - 539
• Main Authors: Radić, Josipa, Ljutic, Dragan, Radić, Mislav, Kovacic, Vedran, Ćurković, Katarina Dodig, Sain, Milenka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01-12-2011
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cognition; Cognition Disorders - etiology; Cognitive-psychomotor function; Female; hemodialysis; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic - therapy; Male; Malnutrition; Malnutrition - etiology; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Nutritional Status; Psychomotor Performance; Renal Dialysis - methods
• ISSN: 1744-9979; 1744-9987
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-9987.2011.00995.x

Both cognitive impairment and malnutrition are common in hemodialysis patients and associated with adverse clinical outcome. The aim of the study was to investigate performance on a detailed cognitive and psychomotor battery in maintenance hemodialysis patients in correlation to nutritional status. A selected population of 65 adult (20 females and 45 males, aged 57.84 ± 12.28 years) hemodialysis (4.78 ± 3.62 years) patients were investigated. The total time of test solving was correlated with Dialysis Malnutrition Score (DMS) in tests of simple visual discrimination of signal location (r = 0.215, P = 0.042), simple convergent visual orientation (r = 0.262, P = 0.020), and convergent thinking (r = 0.244, P = 0.034). The minimum time of test solving was also correlated with DMS in the test of simple convergent visual orientation (r = 0.227, P = 0.038), and in the test of convergent thinking (r = 0.223, P = 0.048). Total ballast, as a descriptor of stability in reaction time, was correlated with DMS in the test of simple visual discrimination of signal location (r = 0.281, P = 0.012), and in a test of short term memory actualization (r = 0.239, P = 0.028). Furthermore, significant correlation was noted between body mass index, serum creatinine, total cholesterol and albumin level with cognitive–psychomotor performance. Hemodialysis patients with a poorer nutritional status performed worse on cognitive and psychomotor tests. Further research is needed to assess the effects of treating malnutrition on cognitive–psychomotor performance in these patients.