Association Between Chronic Kidney Disease–Mineral Bone Disease (CKD-MBD) and Cognition in Children: Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) Study

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children is associated with cognitive dysfunction that affects school performance and quality of life. The relationship between CKD–mineral and bone disorder and cognitive function in children is unknown. STUDY DESIGN: Observational study. PARTICIPANTS: 702 children enrolled in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) Study. PREDICTORS: Plasma fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphorus, 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), and 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25[OH](2)D). OUTCOMES: Neurocognitive tests of intelligence, academic achievement, and executive functions. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Linear regression models to analyze the cross-sectional associations between log(2)FGF-23, 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)(2)D, PTH, calcium, and phosphorus z scores and the cognitive test scores of interest after adjustment for demographics, blood pressure, proteinuria, and kidney function. RESULTS: At baseline, median age was 12 (95% CI, 8.3, 15.2) years and estimated glomerular filtration rate was 54 (40.5, 67.8) mL/min/1.73 m(2). In fully adjusted analyses, 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)(2)D, PTH, calcium, and phosphorus z scores did not associate with cognitive test scores. In fully adjusted analyses, log(2)FGF-23 was associated with abnormal test scores for attention regulation (P < 0.05); specifically, Conners' Continuous Performance Test II Errors of Omission (β = 2.3 [1.0, 3.6]), Variability (β=1.4 [0.4, −2.4]), and Hit Reaction Time (β = 1.3 [0.2, 2.4]). Children in the highest FGF-23 tertile group had 7% and 9% greater cognitive risk for Hit Reaction Time and Errors of Omission compared with those in the lowest tertile, respectively. In fully adjusted analyses, higher FGF-23 tertile was associated with increased cognitive risk (P < 0.05) for Errors of Omission (β = 0.4 [0.1, 0.7]) and Hit Reaction Time (β = 0.4 [0.1, 0.7]). LIMITATIONS: The study does not assess the cumulative effects of FGF-23 excess on cognitive function over time. Within-population stratified analyses were not performed due to limited sample size. CONCLUSIONS: In children with CKD, higher plasma FGF-23 level is associated with lower performance in targeted tests of executive function, specifically attention regulation, independent of glomerular filtration rate.