Sleep and cognition in older adults with cardiovascular disease.
BACKGROUND
Sleep problems are common in the normal population and likely to be especially prevalent in persons with cardiovascular disease.


OBJECTIVE
We examined the prevalence of sleep difficulties and their impact on cognitive function in 77 persons (mean age, 62.8 [SD, 12.5] years; 24% female) presenting for perfusion stress scan at an outpatient cardiology center.


METHODS
Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Modified Mini-Mental State Examination as part of a larger project.


RESULTS
Analyses showed that approximately 94% of participants met the criteria for "poor" sleep (ie, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global score ≥5). Poorer reported sleep was associated with reduced cognitive function as measured by the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination after adjusting for age, depression, and cardiovascular fitness (ie, estimated metabolic equivalents; R² change = 0.08, F = 7.17; P <.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that sleep problems are common in cardiovascular disease and extend previous research by demonstrating they negatively impact cognitive function. Further work is needed to identify other consequences of poor sleep in this population and optimal treatment.
Kociuba
Chelsea
C
Kent State University, Ohio 44242, USA.
Szabo
Ashley
A
Gunstad
John
J
Spitznagel
Mary Beth
MB
Potter
Vanessa
V
Hughes
Joel
J
Waechter
Donna
D
Josephson
Richard
R
Rosneck
Jim
J
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology