Journal of Clinical Nursing

The Mediating Effect of Nutrition on Subjective Cognitive Decline and Frailty in Middle‐Aged and Elderly Maintenance Haemodialysis Patients in China: A Cross‐Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Aim

The aim of this study is to explore whether subjective cognitive decline and frailty were related to each other and whether nutrition mediated their association.

Methods

From January 2025 to May 2025, a total of 194 middle-aged and elderly MHD patients were selected by convenience sampling method. Cross-sectional data on patients' subjective cognitive decline, nutrition, and frailty were collected using questionnaires. Data were analysed using SPSS 27.0 and PROCESS macros.

Results

The frailty score of middle-aged and elderly MHD patients was 4.00 (range 3.00 to 9.00), and 69 (35.57%) were identified as frailty. Spearman correlation analysis showed that subjective cognitive decline (SCD) was positively correlated with frailty. Nutrition was positively associated with SCD and frailty. When controlling for covariates, nutrition was observed to mediate a relationship between SCD and frailty. The intermediate effect value accounted for 31.29% of the total effect.

Conclusions

Nutrition plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between SCD and frailty in middle-aged and elderly MHD patients in this cross-sectional study with a one-way correlational model. The negative effects of SCD on frailty can be mitigated by improving nutritional status. Considering the bidirectional interaction among SCD, nutrition and frailty, this mediating pathway needs to be further verified by longitudinal studies.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Our findings indicate that nutrition plays a mediating role in the association between SCD and frailty. Routine screening for SCD and nutritional status could be considered in clinical practice to detect those at elevated risk of frailty at an early stage. Targeted nutritional and cognitive interventions may help alleviate frailty progression, reduce adverse clinical outcomes, and enhance self-management ability and quality of life, thus supporting the establishment of comprehensive strategies for frailty prevention and management in haemodialysis settings.

Reporting Method

This article follows the STROBE guidelines for the reporting of cross-sectional studies.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.