Cardiovascular events and cognitive impairement

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is an important risk factor for cognitive impairment. It is also assumed that cognitive impairment may increase the risk of future cardiovascular events (CV). There is a growing interest in the relationship between cardiac and cognitive functions, both of which are often impaired in the elderly. Also significant cognitive impairment occurring after stroke and myocardial infarction. Objectives: To determine the association between risks of cognitive impairment using scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and CV events. Methods: Our study included 50 patients (11 strokes, 16 myocardial infarctions and 23 congestive heart failures) hospitalized in the Cardiology Department of Holy Trinity Hospital. We divided patients according to MMSE in 3 categories: 1. Lack of cognitive dysfunction: M M SE-24-30points; 2. Moderate cognitive dysfunction: M M SE-18-23 points; 3. Severe cognitive dysfunction: M M SE-0-17 points. Maximum score for MMSE is 30 points. The table shows that severe cognitive deficit is characteristic for patients with stroke and congestive heart failure. Moderate cognitive dysfunction was characteristic for patients with myocardial infarction and stroke. MMSE Scale is an useful tool in detecting cognitive deficit as areas for patients with stroke, while the most characteristic are impairment of orientation (place), attention and calculation. For patients with myocardial infarction the most characteristic are impairment of recall and comprehension, for patients with congestive heart failure the most characteristic are impairment of registration, writing and copying. Discussion: We found that baseline MMSE had the strongest association with stroke. Previous studies have shown that a prior history of clinical stroke is a much stronger predictor of recurrent stroke than myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. Conclusion: MMSE is detecting tool for cognitive impairment in predicting cardiovascular events.