Elevated HIF-1α levels in maintenance hemodialysis patients: a potential link to increased cognitive impairment risk.

Introduction: In China, an increasing number of patients with end-stage renal disease are undergoing hemodialysis treatment. While this treatment yields relatively positive outcomes, the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis ranges from 24 to 80%, which is significantly higher than the general population. Method: In this retrospective study, a total of 120 patients with kidney disease undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) were enrolled. The cognitive status of these patients was assessed using the C-MoCA score, which allowed categorization into two groups: the no cognitive impairment (NCI) group and the cognitive impairment (CI) group. Relevant clinical data, laboratory test results, as well as HIF-1α levels, were collected and analyzed to determine their relationship with the cognitive status of the patients. Results: In this study, a total of 45 patients (37.5%) developed CI, and their C-MoCA scores were significantly lower (21.6 ± 2.43) compared to patients in the NCI group (27.56 ± 1.48) ( Discussion: Cognitive impairment in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) was found to be associated with older age, lower level of education, and higher HIF-1α levels. These factors should be taken into consideration by clinicians to monitor the cognitive status of MHD patients.