A b s t r a c t Background and aim:As cognitive function is the most vulnerable human feature, its impairment may precede the occurrence of symptoms of cardiovascular system disorders, e.g. atrial fibrillation (AF). In this way, cognitive impairment may not only be a complication of AF, but also a marker of its progression. This study aims to test this hypothesis. Methods:Of 35 patients with AF, 23 (66%) had paroxysmal and 12 (34%) had permanent arrhythmia at the start of the study. At both the start of the study and after 5.86 ± 3.7-7.05 years of follow-up, the following neuropsychological tests were performed using the Beck Depression Inventory, Parts A and B of the Trail Making Test, eight trials from the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), and the Stroop test. Results:Patients who maintained paroxysmal AF for the whole study observation period (n = 10) had a significantly greater score in the sixth (A6) and seventh (A7) RAVLT trials (pertaining to parameters of long-term latent memory) at the start of the study. An association between lower RAVLT A6 and A7 trial scores and the risk of paroxysmal arrhythmia progression to permanent AF was confirmed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Conclusions:A better long-term latent memory RAVLT score was associated with a favourable prognosis of sinus rhythm maintenance. Cognitive impairment should be investigated in patients with AF for the purpose of evaluating the patient's prognosis, subclinical injury to the cardiovascular system, and the ability to comply with treatment.
Background. Atrial fibrillation (AF) may cause worsening of haemodynamic function of the heart, occurrence of peripheral embolism, emotional disorders, and secondary occurrence of cognitive deterioration. It seems that patients with AF constitute a heterogeneous group in terms of features characterising both the arrhythmia itself and their psychophysical efficiency. Taking this into account, the aim of the work was to assess the psychophysical condition of patients with various forms of AF. Methods. The study included 80 subjects diagnosed with AF. Patients underwent a clinical and neuropsychological evaluation, including clinical interview and physical examination, biochemical and echocardiographic parameters, physical performance (6MWT), cognitive and executive functions (TMT A and B, Stroop 1 and 2, RAVLT), and severity of depressive symptoms (BDI). Results. Analysis of the results of neuropsychological tests revealed significantly worse performance of TMT B and RAVLT A3 by patients with long-standing persistent AF than among patients with non-permanent AF. The subjects with long-standing persistent arrhythmia also walked a significantly shorter distance in 6MWT. In 55% of subjects, clinically significant depressive symptoms were observed. However, there were no significant differences in the values of echocardiographic parameters between particular groups. Conclusions. Long-standing persistent type of AF was associated with worse results of psychophysical efficiency, and exercise performance, likewise in cognitive and executive functioning. More than half of patients with AF presented features of depressive disorders.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.