Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
Published on: July 24, 2013
Association Between Frailty and Cognitive Impairment in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Hien Thi Bui1,2, Renny Wulan Apriliyasari1,3, Quyen Huong Quynh Bui1,4
1School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Background:
The literature has reported conflicting findings regarding the association between frailty and cognitive impairment in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the association between frailty and cognitive impairment in patients with CKD.
Methods:
A comprehensive search of Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was conducted from database inception to February 2026. Eligible studies comprised cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, randomized controlled trials, and quasi-experimental studies that reported associations between frailty and cognitive impairment in patients with CKD, with no time or language restrictions.
Results:
A total of 17 studies (9 cross-sectional and 8 cohort) involving 129,868 patients with CKD (mean age 60.88 years) were included in the meta-analysis. The findings indicated that patients with frailty with CKD had significantly higher odds of cognitive impairment than robust patients (odds ratio = 3.13, 95% CI 1.92-5.12). Heterogeneity in association size was influenced by study region, frailty measurement methods, and whether covariate adjustments were made during data analysis (all p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
This systematic review and meta-analysis identified a significant association between frailty and cognitive impairment in patients with CKD. Future prospective cohort studies should assess the causal relationships between frailty and cognitive impairment in this population.
Clinical Relevance Statement:
This study systematically assessed the association between frailty and cognitive impairment in patients with CKD, addressing inconsistent findings in prior research. The results highlight the importance of implementing targeted interventions, particularly for nonfrail CKD patients, to reduce the burden of cognitive impairment and improve patients' outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
Factors Affecting Renal Clearance: Renal Impairment
One condition associated with renal failure is uremia. Uremia is characterized by impaired glomerular filtration and fluid accumulation in the body. This condition hinders the renal clearance of drugs, resulting in drug accumulation and potential...
Chronic Kidney Disease I: Introduction
Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care
Drug Dosing in Renal Diseases: Estimation of Glomerular Filtration Rate Based on Serum Creatinine Concentration

