title: Frequent mild cognitive deficits in several functional domains in elderly patients with heart failure without known cognitive disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of the present study was to investigate whether mild cognitive deficits are present in patients with heart failure (HF) despite absence of any known cognitive disorder.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A well defined group of patients (n = 40) with heart failure completed a cognitive screening check list, a depression screening questionnaire, and a battery consisting of neuropsychological tests assessing 5 different cognitive domains: speed/attention, episodic memory, visuospatial functions, language, and executive functions. The neuropsychological results were compared with those from a group of healthy control subjects (n = 41). The patients with HF displayed cognitive impairment compared with the control group within the domains speed and attention, episodic memory, visuospatial functions, and language. Among them, 34 HF patients (85%) could be classified with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the majority as nonamnestic MCI, ie, with no memory impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the high occurrence of mild cognitive deficits among HF patients without known cognitive disorders, closer attention should be paid to their self-care and compliance. Inadequate self-care and compliance could lead to more frequent hospitalizations. Furthermore, the HF patients may be at increased risk of dementia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Molndal, Sweden. Electronic address: arto.nordlund@neuro.gu.se.
authors.forename: Arto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nordlund
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Molndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berggren
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holmström
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Molndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wallin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Heart failure; cognition; compliance; dementia; mild cognitive impairment; self-care