title: Predictors of cognitive function in candidates for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
abstract: Candidates for coronary artery bypass graft surgery have been found to exhibit reduced cognitive function prior to surgery. However, little is known regarding the factors that are associated with pre-bypass cognitive function. A battery of neuropsychological tests was administered to a group of patients listed for bypass surgery (n = 109). Medical, sociodemographic and emotional predictors of cognitive function were investigated using structural equation modeling. Medical factors, namely history of hypertension and low ejection fraction, significantly predicted reduced cognitive function, as did several sociodemographic characteristics, namely older age, less education, non-English speaking background, manual occupation, and male gender. One emotional variable, confusion and bewilderment, was also a significant predictor whereas anxiety and depression were not. When significant predictors from the three sets of variables were included in a combined model, three of the five sociodemographic characteristics, namely age, non-English speaking background and occupation, and the two medical factors remained significant. Apart from sociodemographic characteristics, medical factors such as a history of hypertension and low ejection fraction significantly predicted reduced cognitive function in bypass candidates prior to surgery.
authors.affiliation: Heart Research Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. christine.ernest@heartresearchcentre.org
authors.forename: Christine S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ernest
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Barbara M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Le Grande
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Goble
authors.forename: Rosemary O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: Marian U C
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Worcester
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tatoulis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease; D003710:Demography; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014706:Verbal Learning