Kidney International advance online publication 12 July 2006; doi: 10.1038/sj.ki.5001691
Improvements in cognition in patients converting from thrice weekly hemodialysis to nocturnal hemodialysis: A longitudinal pilot study
S V Jassal1, G M Devins1, C T Chan1, R Bozanovic1 and S Rourke2
1Department of Medicine, University of Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2Neurobehavioural Research Unit, St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Correspondence: SV Jassal, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, 8N-857, 200 Elizabeth St. Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 2C4. E-mail: Vanita.Jassal@uhn.on.ca
Received 2 February 2006; Revised 21 March 2006; Accepted 18 April 2006; Published online 12 July 2006.
Top of pageAbstract
Cognitive impairment has been documented in uremia with partial improvement after dialysis. Nocturnal daily hemodialysis (NHD) is a novel dialysis modality with multiple benefits. Previous reports have shown marked improvements in quality of life, cardiac function, resolution of peripheral vascular disease, and reversal of central sleep apnea. We hypothesized that patients maintained on NHD would have better cognitive functioning than those receiving conventional therapy. Using a longitudinal study design, patients were tested at baseline and again after 6 months NHD. At each of the two time points, a battery of 10 neuropsychological tests were used to evaluate three domains of cognitive functioning – attention and working memory skills, psychomotor efficiency and processing speed, and learning efficiency. Clinical subjective symptoms for cognitive functioning and depression were measured using the Patients Assessment of Own Functioning inventory and the Beck Depression Index. Twelve patients (six males, six females) were recruited. Patients were aged 39.63.3 years at the time of first testing. Thirty-three percent were diabetic, with a mean Charlson comorbidity score of 3.52.0. Depression (defined as >16 on the Beck Depression Index score) was not seen in any patient. Over the 6-month period, a 22% reduction in cognitive symptoms (P=0.01), 7% improvement in psychomotor efficiency and processing speed (P=0.02), and 32% improvement in attention and working memory (P=0.04) was seen. Learning efficiency scores were unchanged. NHD may be associated with improved general cognitive efficiency as measured by psychomotor efficiency and attention and working memory.
Keywords: hemodialysis, nocturnal hemodialysis, cognitive impairment, psychometric tests, pilot study