title: Assessment of cognitive function in heart failure patients.
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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Box Hill Hospital, Nelson Road, Box Hill, Vic, 3125, Australia.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Worrall-Carter
authors.forename: Kellie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Foister
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Keks
authors.forename: Vivienne
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Howe
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012648:Self Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014739:Victoria; D014888:Wechsler Scales