Situación funcional y mental en ancianos con diferentes grados de filtrado glomerular

Introduction

Few studies have evaluated the functional and mental status of older persons with chronic kidney disease (CKD) not under dialysis. The aim of this study was to determine functional and mental status in a cohort of older patients with distinct degrees of renal function.

Methods

A total of 54 clinically stable, older individuals were included (74.1% women) from geriatric and nephrology consultations. We established 2 groups according to levels of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) calculated on the basis of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation: Group 1 (n = 17: MDRD ≥ 60 ml/min) and group 2 (n = 37: MDRD < 60 ml/min).

Mental and functional status were analyzed in a cross section between January and April, 2008 in older patients attending consultations since 2006. We registered demographic information, renal function parameters, antecedents of vascular disease, and the type of antihypertensive treatment. We analyzed the results of the Barthel Index (BI) and the mini–mental state examination (MMSE). The statistical analysis was carried out with the SPSS 11.0 program.

Results

There were no significant differences in vascular comorbidities or antihypertensive treatment. MMSE scores were lower in group 2 (22.62 ± 10) than in group 1 (28.4 ± 4) (P=.010). No differences were found in functional status between the 2 groups. The results of the BI and the MMSE showed no correlations with renal function parameters. The results of the Barthel Index correlated with those of the MMSE (r =.74; P=.000). The results of the MMSE were inversely correlated with age (r =−0.27; P=.047).

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest a possible association between renal disease and cognitive deterioration in older individuals.