Psychosocial Factors Associated with Cognitive Functioning in Patients Who Are Being Considered or Listed for Kidney Transplant

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

8-1-2025

Publication Title

Am J Transplant

Abstract

Purpose: As a component of a broader systematic review examining the impact of pre-kidney transplant (KT) cognitive functioning (CF) on post-transplant outcomes, we sought to identify the psychosocial factors associated with pre-KT cognitive impairment in patients who are being considered for or listed for KT. Methods: A systematic review was performed with the primary aim of identifying whether CF, as measured in the pre-transplant period, impacts post-transplant medical and/or psychosocial outcomes. Studies were eligible if they provided an evaluation of pre-KT CF and linked it to medical and/or psychosocial outcomes after transplant. After screening 1,491 studies, 33 studies were included in the review. Results: Only six of the included studies assessed for a relationship between pre-KT CF and psychosocial variables. Three studies assessed for the association between pre-KT CF and race. One study found that non-white race was associated with increased odds of cognitive impairment while two studies did not find a significant association, although one had a significantly limited sample (four non-white participant out of 88 total). There were four studies that assessed the association between education and CF, all of which found an association between cognitive impairment and lower educational attainment. There was one study that evaluated the relationship between income and CF and found that less annual household income was associated with cognitive impairment. Two studies evaluated the association between depression and CF pre-transplant though used different self-report measures to assess for symptoms of depression. One of the studies found a significant association between depression and CF though the other did not. It is notable that 15 studies excluded participants with varying mental health histories and/or current symptoms. Conclusions: In conclusion, our systematic review highlights the limited research on the psychosocial factors influencing pre-KT CF. Despite extensive research on the impact of variables such as education and depression in other populations, available research with KT patients has largely failed to take these things into consideration. This makes interpretation of results related to cognitive assessment in this population limited. Further research is needed to explore these psychosocial variables more comprehensively and their potential confounding effect on CF pre-transplant. CITATION INFORMATION: Ramthun M., Engel K., Haver B., Dar W., Jesse M. Psychosocial Factors Associated with Cognitive Functioning in Patients Who Are Being Considered or Listed for Kidney Transplant AJT, Volume 25, Issue 8 Supplement 1 DISCLOSURES: M. Ramthun: None.

Volume

25

Issue

8

First Page

S636

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