Can the Timed Up & Go Test and Montreal Cognitive Assessment predict outcomes in patients waitlisted for renal transplant?

Purpose: Frail patients who undergo renal transplantation (RT) have more complications; however, little is known if these patients can sustain the wait to RT. We used the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to determine outcomes of RT candidates. Methods: In this retrospective study, 526 RT candidates underwent TUGT and MoCA (2015‐2019) and were divided into "favorable" (transplanted or remained on the list) or "unfavorable" (not listed, removed from list, or died) outcome. Demographics, education, language, comorbidities, dialysis type, use of a walking device, TUGT, and MoCA were compared by outcome. Results: Overall, 230 patients (43.7%) passed TUG, 268 (51%) passed MoCA, 133 (25.3%) passed both, and 161 (30.6%) failed both tests. Multivariate analysis demonstrated age ≥ 65 (OR 1.58, CI 1.03–2.43), cardiac disease (OR 3.09, CI 2.02–4.72), ≥36 months on dialysis (OR 1.80, CI 1.24–2.69), EPTS < 20% at time of MoCA (OR 0.26, CI 0.07–0.98), and failing TUGT (OR 2.14, CI 1.43–3.19) were associated with unfavorable outcome. Failing MoCA was not associated with outcome. Conclusions: MoCA test results were not associated with RT waitlist outcomes; however, passing the TUGT was associated with receiving RT or remaining on the list. Additional studies are needed to validate this and determine outcome after RT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]