title: Cognitive Functioning in Coronary Artery Disease Patients: Associations with Thyroid Hormones, N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether biomarkers of health such as serum levels of free triiodothyronine (fT3), total triiodothyronine (TT3), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) impact the cognitive functioning of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  About 278 patients were evaluated for socio-demographic and clinical risk factors as well as fT3, TT3, NT-proBNP, and hsCRP serum levels. Cognitive functioning measures included the Mini-Mental State Examination, Digit Span Test, Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), and Trail Making Test A (TMTA). Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower fT3 concentrations were associated with longer completion time of the DSST and TMTA. Elevated levels of NT-proBNP were also associated with inferior performance on TMTA independently of socio-demographic characteristics, clinical risk factors, and depression symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower fT3 concentrations and higher levels of NT-proBNP were associated with worse cognitive functioning in CAD patients.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Medicine Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga LT-00135, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burkauskas
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Research, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas LT-44307, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Adomas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bunevicius
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Medicine Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga LT-00135, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Julija
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brozaitiene
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Medicine Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga LT-00135, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neverauskas
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Laboratory of Clinical & Experimental Psychopathology, Dr John C. Corrigan Mental Health Center, 49 Hillside Street, Fall River, MA 02720, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Laboratory of Clinical & Experimental Psychopathology, Dr John C. Corrigan Mental Health Center, 49 Hillside Street, Fall River, MA 02720, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duwors
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Medicine Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga LT-00135, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Narseta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mickuviene
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Medicine Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga LT-00135, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Robertas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bunevicius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Depression; Endocrine; Rehabilitation