engleski

Cognitive abilities of hematology-oncology patients in pre- and post-treatment of anemia measured with a Complex Reactiometer Drenovac (CRD)

Anemia is commonly present in hematology and oncology patients and influence significantly their quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anemia and malignant disease on cognitive functions in hematology- oncology patients. Four hundred patients were evaluated for cognitive functions and hemoglobin levels before and after correction of anemia in the Clinical Hospital Center of Rijeka, Croatia. The patients were divided in four groups (100 patients in each group): Experimental Group 1 - patients with malignancy plus anemia, and controls: Group 2 - patients with malignancy and without anemia, Group 3 - patients without malignancy but anemic and Group 4 - healthy controls without malignancy and without anemia. Cognitive functions were measured by Complex Reactiometer Drenovac (CRD) before and after therapy of anemia. Group 1 showed the worst cognitive achievement (p<0.001) compared with all other groups. After correction of anemia, cognition improved (except visual orientation and memory) but did not reach the results of other groups. Cognitive improvement was in correlation with hemoglobin levels. This study confirmed that anemia significantly influence cognitive functions in hematology-oncology patients and that cognitive functions could be improved by correction of anemia.

cognitive abilities, hematology-oncology patients, treatment, anemia,

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