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Title: The kidney disease quality of life cognitive function subscale and cognitive performance maintenance hemodialysis patients

Author
item SORENSEN, ERIC P. - University Of California
item SARNAK, MARK J. - Tufts - New England Medical Center
item TIGHIOUART, HOCINE - Tufts - New England Medical Center
item SCOTT, TAMMY M. - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item GIANG, LENA M. - Brown University
item KIRKPATRICK, BETHANY - Texas A&M University
item LOU, KRISTINA - Tufts - New England Medical Center
item WEINER, DANIEL E. - Tufts - New England Medical Center

Submitted to: American Journal of Kidney Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/27/2011
Publication Date: 3/4/2012
Citation: Sorensen, E., Sarnak, M., Tighiouart, H., Scott, T., Giang, L., Kirkpatrick, B., Lou, K., Weiner, D. 2012. The kidney disease quality of life cognitive function subscale and cognitive performance maintenance hemodialysis patients. American Journal of Kidney Diseases. DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2011.12.029.

Interpretive Summary: Cognitive impairment is common in patients with end-stage kidney disease, but it is often undiagnosed, in part, because of a limited availability of screening tools. The objective of this work was to assess the utility of the commonly used Kidney Disease Quality of Life Cognitive Function (KDQOL-CF) scale in comparison to an extensive neuropsychological battery. We found that the KDQOL was a poor predictor of performance on the comprehensive battery of cognitive tests. These results suggest that in order to assess cognitive impairment in hemodialysis patients, better screening tools are essential.

Technical Abstract: Background: Cognitive impairment is common but often undiagnosed in patients with end-stage renal disease, in part reflecting limited validated and easily administered tools to assess cognitive function in dialysis patients. Accordingly, we assessed the utility of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Cognitive Function (KDQOL-CF) scale in comparison to an extensive neuropsychological battery, building on a prior assessment of this potential cognitive screen. Study Design: Cross-sectional cohort. Setting & Participants: Maintenance hemodialysis patients at 6 Boston area dialysis units were administered an extensive neurocognitive battery and the KDQOL-CF at the beginning of a hemodialysis session. Predictors: KDQOL-CF score, depression symptom burden, and demographic and clinical characteristics. Outcomes: Neurocognitive performance classified into executive function and memory domains, determined using principal components analysis. Measurements: Univariate and multivariable linear regression models adjusting for age, sex, race, and end-stage renal disease cause were used to evaluate the association between KDQOL-CF score and cognitive performance, and test metrics were determined for a KDQOL-CF cutoff score of 60 or less from a maximum score of 100. Results: For 168 prevalent hemodialysis patients, KDQOL-CF score was 76 +/- 19 and 40 (24%) had scores of 60 or less, consistent with self-identified worse cognitive performance. There was no significant correlation between KDQOL-CF score and either memory (P = 0.2 and P = 0.3) or executive function (P = 0.1 and P = 0.4) in univariate and multivariable models, respectively. There was a strong correlation between higher KDQOL-CF score and fewer depression symptoms (P = 0.001). Sensitivity of the KDQOL-CF was poor (range, 0.28-0.36), with modest specificity (range, 0.77-0.81) for identifying worse executive function and memory. Limitations: Cross-sectional study, modest population size, and abbreviated gold-standard cognitive battery. Conclusions: The KDQOL-CF is a poor determinant of neurocognitive performance in hemodialysis patients, with limited sensitivity. To assess cognitive impairment in hemodialysis patients, better screening tests are essential. Am J Kidney Dis. xx(x):xxx. © 2012 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.