Kidney Week

Abstract: FR-PO562

Cognitive Impairments in Renal Transplant Recipients: Impact on Daily Life Functioning

Session Information

• Physical Activity, Body Composition, Metabolism: Clinical
  October 26, 2018 | Location: Exhibit Hall, San Diego Convention Center
  Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Category: Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism

• 1302 Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism: Clinical

Authors

• Ziengs, Aaltje Lisanne, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Aaltje Lisanne Ziengs,

• Gomes Neto, Antonio, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Antonio Gomes Neto,

• Buunk, Anne M., University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Anne M. Buunk,

• Eisenga, Michele F., University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Michele F. Eisenga,

• Annema, Coby, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Coby Annema,

• Bakker, Stephan J.L., University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Stephan J.L. Bakker,

• Navis, Gerjan, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Gerjan Navis,

• Spikman, Joke M., University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Joke M. Spikman,

Background

After kidney transplantation, there is a heavy demand on the cognitive capacities of kidney transplant recipients (KTR) in order to increase survival chance with the donor organ. However, until now, it has been insufficiently examined to what extent cognitive functioning is affected in KTR. In this study, we aimed to examine the prevalence of cognitive impairment in KTR in the chronic stage. In particular, we assessed to what extent cognitive impairments affects daily life functioning post-transplant.

Methods

This study was conducted as part of the Transplantlines Biobank and Cohort Study at the University Medical Center Groningen. We included 120 KTR and 85 age, sex and education matched healthy controls (HC). Cognitive functions were assessed with tests measuring memory (15 Words Test (15WT), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale subtest Digit Span (Forward and Backward; DS FW, DS BW), Word Fluency (WF)), attention and mental speed (Trail Making Test part A (TMT-A)) and executive functioning (Trail Making Test part B (TMT-B), Dutch version of the Controlled Word Association Test (COWAT)). A questionnaire was used to examine participation in daily life (Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation - Participation).

Results

Mean age of KTR was 56.9 ± 12.4 years, 69 were male, at a median time of 11 [1-41] years post-transplantation. KTR performed significantly worse on tasks measuring memory (p < 0.01 (15WT); p < 0.001 (WF); p < 0.05 (DS BW)), attention and mental speed (p < 0.01 (TMT-A) and executive functioning (p < 0.001 (TMT-B); p < 0.001 (COWAT)), compared to HC. Furthermore, daily life participation was significantly correlated with mental speed (r = -0.36, p < 0.001) and working memory (r = 0.21, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study shows cognitive impairments in multiple domains in KTR post-transplantation. Moreover, cognitive dysfunctioning interferes negatively with participation in everyday life. Administering early neuropsychological assessment in KTR is clinically highly relevant to detect cognitive impairments and to allow for timely counselling or treatment.