Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between depression and cognitive function in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods A total of 117 MHD patients were divided into depression group and observation group based on the score from the self- rating depression scale (SDS). Patients in the two groups were assessed by a set of neuropsychological tests including Montreal Cognitive Assessment (Mo- CA), Stroop Test, and Trail Making Tests A and B. Independent sample t test was used to compare the cognitive function between the two groups. Regression analyses of simple linear model, parsimonious model and full-adjusted model were used to predict the relationship between depression and cognitive function. Results There were no significant differences in basic characteristics between the two groups. Patients in the depression group had lower scores for MoCA (t=-2.380, P＜0.05), Stroop C test (t=2.750, P＜0.01), the Picture Arrangement Test of WAIS-RC (t=-2.00, P＜0.05), and Trail Making Test B (t=2.450, P＜0.05) than those in the observation group. Linear regression model, parsimonious model, and full- adjusted model analyses showed that the lower performance of cognitive functions including MoCA, Stroop C test, and Trail Making Test B correlated with the degree of depression symptoms in MHD patients. Conclusion Depressed and none-depressed MHD patients have different cognitive function, especially in the executive functions. Depressed MHD patients are prone to have cognitive impairment.

Key words: MHD patients, cognitive function, depression