Cognitive Deficits in Chronic Heart Failure

Abstract

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) have been found to have cognitive deficits, but it remains unclear whether these deficits are associated with HF or with aging or comorbid conditions common in HF. Objectives: To 1) determine the types, frequency, and severity of cognitive deficits among patients with chronic HF compared to age- and education-matched healthy participants and participants with major medical conditions other than HF; and 2) evaluate the relationships between HF severity, age, and comorbidities and cognitive deficits. Methods: A sample of 414 participants completed the study (249 HF patients, 63 healthy and 102 medical participants). The HF patients completed measures of HF severity, comorbidity (multiple comorbidity, hypertension, depressive symptoms), and neuropsychological functioning. Blood pressure and oxygen saturation were assessed at interview; clinical variables were abstracted from records. Participants in the comparison groups completed the same measures as the HF patients except those specific to HF. Results: Compared to the healthy and medical participants, HF patients had poorer memory, psychomotor speed, and executive function. Significantly more HF patients (24%) had deficits in three or more domains. Higher (worse) HF severity was associated with more cognitive deficits; HF severity interacted with age to explain deficits in executive function. Surprisingly, men with HF had poorer memory, psychomotor speed, and visuospatial recall ability than women. Multiple comorbidity, hypertension, depressive symptoms, and medications were not associated with cognitive deficits in this sample. Discussion: Heart failure results in losses in memory, psychomotor speed, and executive function in almost one fourth of patients. Patients with more severe HF are at risk for cognitive deficits. Older patients with more severe HF may have more problems in executive function and men with HF may be at increased risk for cognitive deficits. Studies are urgently needed to identify the mechanisms for the cognitive deficits in HF and test innovative interventions to prevent cognitive loss and decline.

Cognitive Decline in Heart Failure: More Attention is Needed

“…[13][14][15] Cognitive impairment in HF patients usually fulfils the criteria of vascular CI or vascular dementia.…”

“…13 Heart failure adversely affects various cognitive domains, including attention, learning ability and working memory, executive functions, and information processing speed (see Figure 4). [13][14][15] Cognitive impairment in HF patients usually fulfils the criteria of vascular CI or vascular dementia. 16 Being one of the most important cognitive functions, episodic memory of specific personal events and experiences was demonstrated to slowly decline in HF patients.…”

Brief Walking Test and Cognitive Function among Congestive Heart Failure Patients: Effect Modification by Duration of Congestive Heart Failure

“…2 Acute walking tests have also been shown to associate with cognitive function in a convenience sample of patients with chronic heart failure, 3 which is an important determination as cognitive dysfunction has been shown to occur among those with heart failure. 4,8 Thus, not only may the results of a 6MWT provide valuable information about cardiopulmonary functioning among heart failure patients, it may also help to provide useful information with regard to cognitive function, which ultimately may influence engagement in physical activity behavior. 9 Using a population-based sample, the purpose of this study was to improve our understanding of the potential relationship between the results of a short walking test and cognitive function among older adults with congestive heart failure.…”

Cardioneurology: The Up-to-Date Key Positions and the Future Prospects

“…В ряде исследований продемонстрировано ухуд-шение кровоснабжения головного мозга при постоянной форме ФП, ХСН, приобретенных пороках сердца, идио-патической артериальной гипотензии, ИБС, сопровожда-ющееся появлением и прогрессированием неврологиче-ской симптоматики [42][43][44][45]. Особое внимание в насто-ящее время уделяется состоянию когнитивных функций, нарушение которых может быть первым симптомом церебрального поражения при кардиологической пато-логии [46][47][48][49]. Своевременная диагностика неврологиче-ских и нейропсихологических проявлений кардиогенной сосудистой мозговой недостаточности должна послу-жить поводом для оптимизации сердечно-сосудистой терапии с целью улучшения качества жизни и прогноза заболевания.…”