Abstract
Introduction
Cognitive impairment in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is commonly associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. As a complex pathology, at all stages of CKD patients need to have a good understanding of the need for drug and nutritional adherence. Cognitive screening is the starting point for detection of cognitive impairments.
Objective
To determine the specificity and sensitivity of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment – Basic (MoCA-B) for identification of cognitive impairment in the CKD population.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study with 163 CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and MoCA-B were administered.
Results
The MoCA-B has reliable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.74). A cutoff point of ≤ 21 points provides the best sensitivity and specificity for detection of cognitive impairment. The education variable had less impact on the total MoCA-B score than on the total MMSE score.
Conclusions
The MoCA-B is a suitable screening instrument for evaluating the global cognition of hemodialysis patients. The results can help health professionals to conduct evaluations and plan clinical management.
Mental status and dementia tests; psychometrics; kidney diseases; neuropsychological tests
