Neurocognitive function and quality of life in relation to hematocrit levels in chronic hemodialysis patients

Objective: We examined the putative association between the levels of hematocrit and improvement of cognitive function as well as quality of life in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Methods: Fifty-six ESRD patients were divided into two groups according to their hematocrit levels: Group A consisted of 28 patients with hematocrit levels lower than the median (27.2 g%), while Group B, the remaining 28 patients, with higher than the median level. Neurocognitive function and the quality of life in these two groups were compared. Results: Although patients with higher hematocrit levels scored better in the neurocognitive function tests such as the forward digit-span (P=.034) and digit-symbol (P=.023), their quality of life evaluated by three scales (Karnofsky Scale, Index of Well-Being, and SF-36) was not any better than those with lower hematocrit group. Conclusions: The present study indicated that in chronic hemodialysis patients, the higher hematocrit levels improve neurocognitive function but not the quality of life.