Psychiatry Research EG

Objective To evaluate sociodemographics and prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Patients and methods A 2-year cross-sectional study was carried out at Sohag Governorate, Upper Egypt, in which 1191 hemodialysis patients were enrolled for assessment of the prevalence and severity of cognitive dysfunction through assessment of history, neurological and medical examination, and psychometric testing (Mini-Mental State Examination). Sociodemographic characteristics were determined by a semistructured interview applied to all the hemodialysis patients studied. Results Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients (72.29%) and it is directly related to age as patients ranging in age from 58 to 65 years were part of the most prevalent hemodialysis group (89.25%) with cognitive impairment. Female hemodialysis patients (79.17%) more frequently had cognitive impairment than male patients (67.16%). The prevalence of cognitive impairment was low among married hemodialysis patients (68.90%), whereas it was high in hemodialysis patients of low socioeconomic status (81.11%). Illiterate and primary educated hemodialysis patients had a high prevalence of cognitive impairment (83.06 and 78.75%, respectively). Hemodialysis patients who lived in rural areas (74.55%) more commonly had cognitive impairment than those who lived in urban areas (69.36%). Cognitive impairment in patients receiving hemodialysis was classified into mild (34.84%), moderate (34.96%), and severe (30.20%) types. Conclusion Hemodialysis patients commonly have cognitive impairment, especially older patients, women, those of low socioeconomic status, those with a low educational level, and patients who live in rural areas, whereas it is less common among married patients. Keywords: cognitive impairment, hemodialysis, prevalence