Do management strategies for coronary artery disease influence 6-year cognitive outcomes?
BACKGROUND
Previous uncontrolled studies have suggested that there is late cognitive decline after coronary artery bypass grafting that may be attributable to use of the cardiopulmonary bypass pump.


METHODS
In this prospective, nonrandomized, longitudinal study, we compared cognitive outcomes after on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (n = 152) with off-pump bypass surgery patients (n = 75); nonsurgical cardiac comparison subjects (n = 99); and 69 heart-healthy comparison (HHC) subjects. The primary outcome measure was change from baseline to 72 months in the following cognitive domains: verbal memory, visual memory, visuoconstruction, language, motor speed, psychomotor speed, attention, executive function, and a composite global score.


RESULTS
There were no consistent differences in 72-month cognitive outcomes among the three groups with coronary artery disease (CAD). The CAD groups had lower baseline performance, and a greater degree of decline compared with HHC. The degree of change was small, with none of the groups having more than 0.5 SD decline. None of the groups was substantially worse at 72 months compared with baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with subjects with no vascular disease risk factors, the CAD patients had lower baseline cognitive performance and greater degrees of decline over 72 months, suggesting that in these patients, vascular disease may have an impact on cognitive performance. We found no significant differences in the long-term cognitive outcomes among patients with various CAD therapies, indicating that management strategy for CAD is not an important determinant of long-term cognitive outcomes.
Selnes
Ola A
OA
Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. oselnes@jhmi.edu
Grega
Maura A
MA
Bailey
Maryanne M
MM
Pham
Luu D
LD
Zeger
Scott L
SL
Baumgartner
William A
WA
McKhann
Guy M
GM
D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D047549:Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors