Cardiopulmonary fitness is associated with cognitive performance in patients with coronary artery disease.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between cardiopulmonary fitness and cognitive performance in subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD).


METHODS
Cross-sectional observational study.


METHODS
Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation.


METHODS
Eighty-one subjects with CAD.


METHODS
Cardiopulmonary fitness was assessed by measuring peak oxygen uptake (VO(2Peak) ) in a standardized exercise stress test. The fraction of the predicted age and sex norm for VO(2Peak) was computed for each patient. A battery of neuropsychological tests including the Stroop, Trail-Making Test Part B, Digit Symbol Coding, Revised Brief Visuospatial Memory Test, California Verbal Learning Test 2nd Edition, and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was administered, from which composite Z-scores were computed for tasks involving executive function and memory.


RESULTS
Executive function, memory, and MMSE scores were correlated with VO(2Peak) , but only performance in the executive domain was independently associated with VO(2Peak) in multiple linear regression. In a multiple linear regression model controlling for potential clinical confounders, VO(2Peak) (β=.666, P<.001) and covariates accounted for 36% of the variance in executive function scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Poorer VO(2Peak) is associated with poorer cognition, particularly executive function, in subjects with CAD independent of other cardiac risk factors. Cardiopulmonary fitness may be a protective factor for cognition in patients with CAD.
Swardfager
Walter
W
Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Herrmann
Nathan
N
Marzolini
Susan
S
Saleem
Mahwesh
M
Kiss
Alexander
A
Shammi
Prathiba
P
Oh
Paul I
PI
Lanctôt
Krista L
KL
D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors