title: Neurocognitive function and quality of life in relation to hematocrit levels in chronic hemodialysis patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Heon-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong-Ku
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Leen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sook-Haeng
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Joe
authors.forename: In-Kwa
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Kwang-Yoon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Hyung-Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014888:Wechsler Scales