Cardiac Disease and Cognitive Impairment
Cardiac Disease and Cognitive Impairment
The literature search aimed for studies that included adults and were written in the English language. The first search focused on studies concerning presence of specific cognitive deficits in cardiac patients. Only studies using neuropsychological tests covering specific cognitive functions were included. With respect to the heterogeneous group of heart failure patients we included studies that mentioned ejection fraction, and focused on systolic heart failure patients and/or patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction, since the presence of cognitive deficits in heart failure patients in general has been reviewed already. Inclusion and exclusion of studies and MeSH terms used are presented in figure 1A and appendix 1, respectively. The quality of the included studies was independently assessed by two authors (LHPE and JCJ) using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. This scale rates the quality of case–control studies and cohort studies in terms of the selection of participants; four criteria, comparability of study groups; one criterion, and outcome assessment; three criteria. Rating scores range from 1 to 9 points, and higher scores indicate better study quality. Differences in rating were resolved by consensus. Details concerning the studies including ratings are presented in Table 1 , Table 2 , Table 3 and Table 4 . Finally, to explore the relationship between cardiac function and cognition, a separate search was performed (see appendix 1). For inclusion and exclusion of studies in this search and details on the included studies see figure 1B and Table 5 , respectively.
(Enlarge Image)
Figure 1.
Flowcharts. (A) Literature search and study selection concerning presence of specific cognitive deficits in cardiac patients. (B) Literature search and study selection concerning the relationship between echocardiography and cognition.
First, specific cognitive deficits in persons with cardiac disease will be discussed, that is, persons with coronary artery disease, persons with atrial fibrillation and persons with systolic heart failure or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. In addition, studies investigating the relationship between echocardiographic measures and cognitive functioning are described. Finally, implications of these findings will be addressed and the potential role for interventions will be explored.
Methods
Search Strategies and Selection Criteria
The literature search aimed for studies that included adults and were written in the English language. The first search focused on studies concerning presence of specific cognitive deficits in cardiac patients. Only studies using neuropsychological tests covering specific cognitive functions were included. With respect to the heterogeneous group of heart failure patients we included studies that mentioned ejection fraction, and focused on systolic heart failure patients and/or patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction, since the presence of cognitive deficits in heart failure patients in general has been reviewed already. Inclusion and exclusion of studies and MeSH terms used are presented in figure 1A and appendix 1, respectively. The quality of the included studies was independently assessed by two authors (LHPE and JCJ) using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. This scale rates the quality of case–control studies and cohort studies in terms of the selection of participants; four criteria, comparability of study groups; one criterion, and outcome assessment; three criteria. Rating scores range from 1 to 9 points, and higher scores indicate better study quality. Differences in rating were resolved by consensus. Details concerning the studies including ratings are presented in Table 1 , Table 2 , Table 3 and Table 4 . Finally, to explore the relationship between cardiac function and cognition, a separate search was performed (see appendix 1). For inclusion and exclusion of studies in this search and details on the included studies see figure 1B and Table 5 , respectively.
(Enlarge Image)
Figure 1.
Flowcharts. (A) Literature search and study selection concerning presence of specific cognitive deficits in cardiac patients. (B) Literature search and study selection concerning the relationship between echocardiography and cognition.
Review Outline
First, specific cognitive deficits in persons with cardiac disease will be discussed, that is, persons with coronary artery disease, persons with atrial fibrillation and persons with systolic heart failure or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. In addition, studies investigating the relationship between echocardiographic measures and cognitive functioning are described. Finally, implications of these findings will be addressed and the potential role for interventions will be explored.
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