Sensitivity and specificity of the Brazilian version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment - Basic (MoCA-B) in chronic kidney disease

Introduction: Cognitive impairment in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is commonly associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. As a complex pathology, at all stages of CKD patients need to have a good understanding of the need for drug and nutritional adherence. Cognitive screening is the starting point for detection of cognitive impairments. Objective: To determine the specificity and sensitivity of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment - Basic (MoCA-B) for identification of cognitive impairment in the CKD population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 163 CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and MoCA-B were administered. Results: The MoCA-B has reliable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.74). A cutoff point of <= 21 points provides the best sensitivity and specificity for detection of cognitive impairment. The education variable had less impact on the total MoCA-B score than on the total MMSE score. Conclusions: The MoCA-B is a suitable screening instrument for evaluating the global cognition of hemodialysis patients. The results can help health professionals to conduct evaluations and plan clinical management.