Comorbidities and cognitive decline: relations and interactions in stroke patients

Abstract

Background: Cognitive decline in stroke patients represents a common issue that can result in poor rehabilitation outcomes and require bigger resources from healthcare systems. Although cognitive conditions can be regarded as separate diagnosis, it is clear that presence of several comorbidities are more common in patients with cognitive disorders. The aim of our study was to determine the most common associations of comorbidities in patients with stroke and cognitive decline. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with stroke admitted to rehabilitation unit was performed. Patients with cognitive decline were analyzed separately in order to highlight main comorbidity groups. Results: Comorbidity number was identical in patients with or without cognitive decline, counting about 4 – 5 additional diagnosis. Cognitive disorders were registered in 11% of the patients. Among most common comorbidity groups were observed the cardiovascular conditions mainly hypertensive cardiopathy in 56 % and atrial fibrillation in 48 % followed by metabolic pathologies, such as diabetes in 24% and hyperlipidemia in 22% of the patients. Among the most common functional deficits in patients with cognitive decline were hemiparesis and speech disorders. Conclusions: Cardiovascular and metabolic group of conditions are the most common groups of comorbidities in patients with stroke and cognitive decline. A more sensitive research including clustered/ group analyses should be performed in order to determine comorbidity interaction in patients with stroke and cognitive deficits.