Survival and cognitive deterioration in elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis

Abstract

AimThis study aimed to elucidate the 5‐year changes in the cognitive function of elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis and its association with survival and related factors.MethodsCognitive function in patients aged ≥65 years undergoing hemodialysis at the Nagasaki Renal Center was assessed using the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) in 2016. Patients were subsequently classified into normal, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and suspected dementia groups according to their scores; MMSE was conducted at 30 and 60 months thereafter. The patients were followed until 2021. The association between survival and patient backgrounds was analyzed.ResultsOf the 181 patients, 168 completed follow‐up and were classified into normal (n = 71, 42.3%), MCI (n = 44, 26.1%), and suspected dementia (n = 53, 31.5%) groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age, female sex, and geriatric nutritional risk index were associated with MMSE scores <24. The 5‐year survival rates were 60.6%, 40.9%, and 22.6% in the normal, MCI and suspected dementia groups, respectively. With some exceptions, MMSE results tended to decline during the observation period. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model showed that age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04; P = 0.007), dialysis vintage (HR, 0.96; P = 0.04), male sex (HR, 1.77; P = 0.02), geriatric nutritional risk index (HR, 0.94; P < 0.001) and MMSE score (HR, 0.96; P = 0.01) were independent risk factors for patient survival.ConclusionsCognitive impairment in patients undergoing hemodialysis was associated with age and nutritional status. Patients with cognitive impairment had a poor prognosis. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 111–116.