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Updated: May 28, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Cognitive Dysfunction and Vascular/Valvular Calcification in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis: A
Nazife Nur Özer Şensoy1, Mehmet Usta2, Selvi Coşar3
1Department of Nephrology, University of Health Sciences, Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital, 16310 Bursa, Türkiye.
Insights
Vascular calcification is not an independent predictor of cognitive impairment in peritoneal dialysis patients. Age and female sex are the strongest factors associated with cognitive dysfunction in this population.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Cognitive impairment is a significant complication in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.
- Determinants of cognitive dysfunction in PD patients are not fully understood.
- Vascular calcification is a potential marker for systemic vascular pathology and cognitive dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between intracranial and valvular calcification and cognitive dysfunction in PD patients.
- To identify predictors of cognitive impairment in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study of 95 PD patients.
- Cognitive function assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
- Intracranial and valvular calcifications evaluated via imaging; logistic regression and ROC analysis performed.
Main Results:
- Older age and female sex were associated with cognitive dysfunction in univariate and multivariable analyses.
- Mitral valve calcification showed association in univariate analysis but not after adjustment.
- Age (OR: 1.06) and female sex (OR: 3.4) were independent predictors; ROC analysis showed limited discriminative performance (AUC: 0.63).
Conclusions:
- Calcification parameters were not independent predictors of cognitive dysfunction in PD patients after adjustment.
- Age and female sex are key factors associated with cognitive impairment in PD patients.
- Calcification burden may reflect vascular aging and comorbidity rather than being a direct predictor.
Abstract:
Background: Cognitive impairment is a common and clinically significant complication in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, a vulnerable population with multiple comorbidities. However, its underlying determinants remain incompletely understood. Vascular calcification, as a marker of systemic vascular pathology, has been suggested to be associated with cognitive dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between intracranial and valvular calcification and cognitive dysfunction in peritoneal dialysis patients. Methods: This single-center cross-sectional study included patients receiving peritoneal dialysis. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Intracranial and valvular calcifications were determined based on imaging findings. Clinical, demographic, and laboratory parameters were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with cognitive dysfunction, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess discriminative performance. Results: A total of 95 patients were included. Patients with cognitive dysfunction were older and more frequently female. In univariate analysis, age, female sex, and mitral valve calcification were significantly associated with cognitive dysfunction. After multivariable adjustment, only age (OR: 1.06, p = 0.02) and female sex (OR: 3.4, p = 0.03) remained independently associated. ROC analysis showed limited discriminative performance (AUC: 0.63). Conclusions: Calcification parameters were associated with cognitive dysfunction in unadjusted analyses but did not remain independent predictors after adjustment. Age was the strongest factor associated with cognitive dysfunction, while female sex was also independently associated with increased risk. These findings suggest that calcification burden may reflect cumulative vascular aging and comorbidity rather than serving as a standalone predictor of cognitive impairment.
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