Table 1.

Cognitive testing in advanced chronic kidney disease.

Cognitive test scenario	Considerations	Potential cognitive tests	Renal testing “equivalents”
Informal assessment	• Usual practice • Poor accuracy (insensitive and non-specific)	Judging cognition based on clinic consultation	Palpation for pedal oedema
Cognitive Triage	• Very brief (<5 mins) • Acceptable • Minimal training • Blunt assessment	• Single screening questions • Four point AMT • Mini-Cog	Dipstick urinalysis
Multi-domain screen	• Brief (<20 mins) • Training required • Global assessment only	• MMSE • MoCA • RUDAS	Laboratory urea and electrolytes
Multi-domain assessment	• Often >60 mins • Needs specialist expertise • Detailed assessment	Neuropsychological battery	Renal biopsy
Diagnostic formulation	• Clinically relevant • Multiple consultations • Needs specialist expertise and ancillary tests	Multidisciplinary clincial diagnosis of dementia	Multidisciplinary clinico-pathological diagnosis of glomerulonephritis

MMSE, Mini-Mental State Exam; MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment; RUDAS, Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale.