Cognitive impairment in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A longitudinal investigation estimating the prevalence and incidence of cognitive impairment in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease attending a specialist outpatient clinic.
IRAS ID
212335
Contact name
Peter Hobson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition where person’s kidneys lose their ability to keep them healthy because wastes can build to high levels in their blood and make them feel unwell. Along with this, many patients also develop complications like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, anaemia (low blood count), weak bones, poor nutritional health and nerve damage. In addition to the above conditions, some researchers have also reported increased risks in CKD patients of developing cognitive impairment (how we remember things, reason and think), compared to the general population. In the United Kingdom there have been surprisingly very few research studies that have investigated the prevalence (how many people in a population have a condition), or incidence (the number of people who develop a disease over a specific time) of cognitive problems in CKD. In Wales there have not been any reported.
What we intend to do is to assess cognitive function in people with CKD who are attending a specialist clinic for kidney problems, and who do not have a previous diagnosis of memory or cognitive impairment. We will use special tests that are designed to assess cognitive function and will also assess quality of life and mood with some standard questionnaires. Patients who complete these tests will be invited to have them repeated at 12 and 24 months after their first assessment to see if there is any change in their cognitive function. When we have collected our data we will analyse it to estimate the number of people with cognitive problems and who develop it over time. In addition, we will investigate if cognitive function is related to CKD and its progression, or to other medical conditions, or other factors such as, the age of the person, gender, quality of life or mood.REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0393
Date of REC Opinion
19 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion