Effect of More Frequent Hemodialysis on Cognitive Function in the Frequent Hemodialysis Network Trials

• Published in: American journal of kidney diseases Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 228 - 237
• Main Authors: Kurella Tamura, Manjula, MD, MPH, Unruh, Mark L., MD, MSc, Nissenson, Allen R., MD, Larive, Brett, MS, Eggers, Paul W., PhD, Gassman, Jennifer, PhD, Mehta, Ravindra L., MD, Kliger, Alan S., MD, Stokes, John B., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.02.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition - physiology; cognitive function; Dialysis; Emergency and intensive care: renal failure. Dialysis management; end-stage renal disease; Female; Humans; Intensive care medicine; Kidney Failure, Chronic - therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nephrology; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Nephropathies. Renovascular diseases. Renal failure; Renal Dialysis - methods; Renal failure; Time Factors; cognitive function; end-stage renal disease; Dialysis; Kidney disease; Nephrology; Urinary system disease; Chronic renal failure; Hemodialysis; Terminal stage; Cognition; Urology; Extrarenal dialysis; Renal failure; Network; Clinical trial; Frequency
• ISSN: 0272-6386; 1523-6838
• DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2012.09.009

Background Cognitive impairment is common in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis 3 times per week. Study Design Randomized clinical trial. Setting & Participants 218 individuals participating in the Frequent Hemodialysis Network (FHN) Daily Trial and 81 participating in the FHN Nocturnal Trial. Intervention The Daily Trial tested in-center hemodialysis 6 times per week versus 3 times per week. The Nocturnal Trial tested home nocturnal hemodialysis 6 times per week versus home or in-center hemodialysis 3 times per week. Outcomes Cognitive function was measured at baseline, month 4, and month 12. The primary outcome was performance on the Trail-Making Test, Form B, a measure of executive function, and a secondary outcome was performance on the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination, a measure of global cognition. The domains of attention, psychomotor speed, memory, and verbal fluency were assessed in 59 participants in the Daily Trial and 19 participants in the Nocturnal Trial. Results We found no benefit of frequent hemodialysis in either trial for the primary cognitive outcome (Daily Trial: OR for improvement, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.59-1.66; Nocturnal Trial: OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.48-2.96). Similarly, there was no benefit of frequent hemodialysis in either trial on global cognition, the secondary cognitive outcome. Exploratory analyses in the Daily Trial suggested possible benefits of frequent hemodialysis for memory and verbal fluency, but not for attention and psychomotor speed. Exploratory analyses in the Nocturnal Trial suggested no benefit of frequent hemodialysis on attention, psychomotor speed, memory, or verbal fluency. Limitations Unblinded intervention, small sample. Conclusions Frequent hemodialysis did not improve executive function or global cognition.