The relationship between chronic anemia caused by hematologic disease and cognitive impairment

Patients with hematology disease ( such as aplastic anemia, primary myelofibrosis, and myelodysplastic syndrome) always in the condition of moderate and severe anemia for a long time. However, this chronic anemia condition impact on cognitive function was not well studied. We aim to explore the relationship between chronic anemia and cognitive function. We conducted a cross-sectional study. Collecting patients’ clinical dates and demographic characteristics from blood routine examination and self report. Objective cognition function was assessed by Chinese versions of Montreal Cognitive Assessment ( MoCA), total score of cognitive function and subscores of cognitive domains were calculated for each. Associations with chronic anemia and cognitive function were estimated using logistic regression. A total of 214 people including 70 chronic anemia and 144 non-anemia. Chronic anemia was independent factor for overall cognitive impairment, visual space and execution, attention, abstract and delayed recall (P < 0.05). The longer time of chronic anemia, the more possibility to have cognitive decline (P < 0.05). 36.5 months is a cutoff line for cognitive impairment among patients with chronic anemia. Chronic anemia can cause cognitive impairment; the longer time of chronic anemia, the easier to have cognitive decline.