Relationships Between Behavioral Disturbances and Cognitive Function in Elderly Hemodialysis Patients

OBJECTIVE: We studied the relationships between behavioral disturbances, cognitive function, and patient characteristics in elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: The study included 15 patients >= 65 years of age who were undergoing hemodialysis. Cognitive function was assessed using Hasegawa's Dementia Scale Revised Version (HDS-R). The patients' nursing and dialysis records were scrutinized for 30 behavioral disturbance items and the numbers of items identified over a 6-month period were recorded. RESULTS: Relationships were detected between the levels of cognitive function and the total number of behavioral disturbances or specific behavioral disturbances. Behavioral disturbances appeared more frequently in the patients who were elderly, female, and who lived in care facilities. CONCLUSION: We conclude that some behavioral disturbances in elderly hemodialysis patients are related to the levels of cognitive function and particular characteristics of the patients.