Abstract: Objective To explore the significance and potential influencing factors for the clock drawing test( CDT) in cognitive assessment for patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis. Methods Ninety- five Child- Turcotte- Pugh class A patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis,who were admitted to our hospital from June to December,2012,were enrolled as subjects. Ninety- five healthy volunteers were used as controls.CDT was conducted in the two groups to measure cognitive functions and investigate potential influencing factors. Results The medians of total scores of CDT1 and CDT2 were 17 and 26,respectively,in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis,and 20 and 27,respectively,in the control group. The rank- sum test showed that the total score of CDT1 and the scores of the digital and pointer parts in CDT1 and CDT2 were all significantly lower in the cirrhosis group than in the control group( P < 0. 05). There were no significant differences in the total score of CDT2 and the scores of the anchor parts in CDT1 and CDT2 between the two groups. The Spearman correlation analysis indicated that the total score of CDT2 was negatively correlated with age( r =- 0. 262,P < 0. 05) and positively correlated with driving history( r = 0. 238,P <0. 05) in the control group; in the cirrhosis group,the total score of CDT1 was negatively correlated with abnormal direct bilirubin level( r =- 0. 203,P < 0. 05),and the total score of CDT2 was positively correlated with education,driving history,and antiviral therapy( r =0. 291,P < 0. 05; r = 0. 222,P < 0. 05; r = 0. 223,P < 0. 05). Conclusion The impairment in visual- spatial ability of patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis should be taken into account. CDT is helpful for the early detection of cognitive dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis.