Sensitivity and specificity of the Brazilian version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment – Basic (MoCA-B) in chronic kidney disease

Abstract Introduction Cognitive impairment in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is commonly associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. As a complex pathology, at all stages of CKD patients need to have a good understanding of the need for drug and nutritional adherence. Cognitive screening is the starting point for detection of cognitive impairments. Objective To determine the specificity and sensitivity of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment – Basic (MoCA-B) for identification of cognitive impairment in the CKD population. Methods This was a cross-sectional study with 163 CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and MoCA-B were administered. Results The MoCA-B has reliable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.74). A cutoff point of ≤ 21 points provides the best sensitivity and specificity for detection of cognitive impairment. The education variable had less impact on the total MoCA-B score than on the total MMSE score. Conclusions The MoCA-B is a suitable screening instrument for evaluating the global cognition of hemodialysis patients. The results can help health professionals to conduct evaluations and plan clinical management.