Assessment of cognitive function in heart failure patients
Received 29 March 2005; received in revised form 26 September 2005; accepted 11 October 2005. published online 15 December 2005.
Abstract
Background
Research on the cognitive capacity of heart failure patients is limited, with a paucity of benchmark information available for this population. It is highly likely that cognitive deficits affect patients' understanding of disease and treatment requirements, as well as limiting their functional capacity and ability to implement treatment plans, and undertake self-care.
Aims
The purpose of this study was to establish a comprehensive neurocognitive profile of the heart failure patient through systematic neurocognitive assessment and to determine whether an association existed between severity of heart failure and cognitive abilities.
Methods
Thirty-eight patients were recruited from the heart failure patient databases of two metropolitan hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. Participants were individually assessed using four standardised, internationally recognised neuropsychological tests that examined current and premorbid intelligence, memory and executive functioning.
Results
Although there was no significant decline from premorbid general intellectual function, other specific areas of deficit, including impaired memory and executive functioning, were identified. There were no significant correlations between heart failure severity and the neurocognitive measures used.
Conclusion
The results support the need to recognise cognitive impairment in people with heart failure and to develop an abbreviated method of assessing cognitive function that can be easily implemented in the clinical setting. Identifying cognitive deficits in this population will be useful in guiding the content and nature of treatment plans to maximise adherence and minimise worsening of heart failure symptoms.
aBox Hill Hospital, Nelson Road, Box Hill, Vic, 3125, Australia
bDeakin University/Box Hill Hospital, School of Nursing, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
cDepartment of Psychiatry, Box Hill Hospital, Nelson Road, Box Hill, VIC, 3125, Australia
dSchool of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Box Hill Hospital, Nelson Road, Box Hill, VIC, 3125, Australia
ABSTRACT