title: COPD is associated with cognitive dysfunction and poor physical fitness in heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the associations among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cognitive function, and physical fitness in heart failure (HF).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Cognitive impairment in HF in part stems from medical comorbidities and poor physical fitness. COPD, a frequent co-existing condition in HF, is a risk factor for cognitive impairment and a known cause of poor physical fitness. Yet, the interplay among COPD, cognition, and physical fitness has never been examined in HF.
  
  
  METHODS
  191 HF patients completed a cognitive test battery and brief physical fitness assessment. Diagnostic history of COPD was ascertained via medical chart review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analyses showed HF patients with COPD exhibited worse attention/executive function and poorer fitness relative to their non-COPD counterparts. Worse fitness correlated with cognitive dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COPD is associated with reduced cognition and worse fitness in HF. Longitudinal work that employs objective assessments of COPD is needed to determine directionality and clarify mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Alosco
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Summa Health System, Akron City Hospital, Akron, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Spitznagel
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, USA; Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Josephson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Summa Health System, Akron City Hospital, Akron, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA. Electronic address: jgunstad@kent.edu.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunstad
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: COPD; Cognitive function; Heart failure; Physical fitness