Prevalence, types and recognition of cognitive impairment in dialysis patients in South Eastern Sydney

In international studies, cognitive impairment is a common but underdetected issue in dialysis patients. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) shares risk factors with and is an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment. There is a lack of Australian data on cognitive impairment in this at-risk population. This has implications on service planning because cognitive impairment in CKD is associated with higher mortality, morbidity and healthcare costs.

To examine the prevalence, types and clinician recognition of cognitive impairment within an Australian dialysis population.

A cross-sectional study of haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients in South Eastern Sydney screened for cognitive impairment using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Participant interviews, medical records, physician and carer questionnaires, were used to determine the types of cognitive impairment and rate of recognition.

One hundred and six participants were included (median age 66 years, median dialysis duration 2 years) and 58 (54.7%) were cognitively impaired on the MoCA, of whom old age psychiatrists sub-classified 21 (36.2%) as having dementia, and 31 (53.4%) with 'cognitive impairment, no dementia'; 36/58 (62.0%) of the cognitively impaired participants on the MoCA were suspected of having cognitive impairment by nephrologists but only 14/58 (24.1%) had this documented in medical records.

Although cognitive impairment is common in dialysis patients, there are low levels of detection by clinical teams. Cognitive screening of dialysis patients should be incorporated as part of wider assessment and determination of management goals such as individuals' capacity to self-care and provide informed consent to treatments.