Erythropoietin prevents dementia in hemodialysis patients: A nationwide population-based study
Journal
Aging
Journal Volume
11
Journal Issue
17
Pages
6941-6950
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Abstract
Erythropoietic medications such as including erythropoietin (EPO) are known to be neuroprotective and to correlate with improved cognitive functions. However, it is not known whether supplementation with EPO reduces the risk of dementia in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients receiving hemodialysis (HD). Here, we determined whether EPO levels correlate with the incidence of different dementia subtypes, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), and unspecified dementia (UnD), and whether such associations vary with annual cumulatively defined daily doses (DDDs) of EPO for ESRD patients receiving HD. This retrospective study included data from 43,906 adult ESRD patients who received HD between 1999 and 2010. Using hazard ratios and Cox regression models, we found that patients receiving EPO had a 39% lower risk of general dementia than those in the non-EPO group. Similarly, the risks of VaD and UnD was lower for patients in the EPO cohort. The risk of dementia was further reduced in HD patients treated with EPO in combination with iron. Our results suggest that the use of EPO medications in HD patients is associated with a reduced risk of VaD and UnD, but not AD, regardless of whether EPO is used alone or in combination with iron. ? Hung et al.
Subjects
Alzheimer's disease; End-stage renal disease; Erythropoietin; Hemodialysis
SDGs
Other Subjects
erythropoietin; iron; trace element; adult; aged; anemia; chronic kidney failure; complication; dementia; female; human; incidence; intravenous drug administration; male; middle aged; retrospective study; Taiwan; very elderly; Administration, Intravenous; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anemia; Dementia; Erythropoietin; Female; Humans; Incidence; Iron; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Taiwan; Trace Elements
Publisher
Impact Journals LLC
Type
journal article