Link between cognitive impairment and worse prognosis in heart failure patients

Date:
August 26, 2020
Source:
Lund University
Summary:
Despite new treatments such as modern medicines and defibrillators,
the mortality rate with heart failure is still high and the
prognosis worse than for certain cancers. A new study now shows
a link between cognitive impairment and an increased risk for
rehospitalization, or an early death, in heart failure patients.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Heart failure is an endemic disease affecting 250,000 Swedes. Despite
new treatments such as modern medicines and defibrillators, the mortality
rate is still high and the prognosis worse than for certain cancers. A new study from Lund University in Sweden now shows a link between cognitive impairment and an increased risk for rehospitalisation, or an early death,
in heart failure patients.


========================================================================== Researchers at Skaane University Hospital and Lund University conducted
the new study, published in the medical journal ESC Heart Failure. It
is the first study in which cognitive impairment is linked to worse
prognoses in a larger group of heart failure patients who have received
care at Skaane University Hospital in Malmo".

Cognitive ability refers to, for example, memory, the ability to orient
oneself in time and place, problem solving and the use of numbers and
language.

"The patients were asked to complete three different cognitive tests
within the framework for the study. The independent connection we could
see was that patients who performed worse on the tests arewere at an
increased risk of rehospitalisation and at an increased risk of death,"
says Martin Magnusson, consultant in cardiology at Skaane University
Hospital and adjunct professor at Lund University.

The study looked at 281 patients of whom 80 demonstrated cognitive
impairment in the tests. However, only four of them were previously
aware that their cognitive ability was impaired.

"It could be that this patient group has a reduced ability to comply
with evidence-based treatment recommendations -- particularly if they
are unaware of their cognitive impairment. However, this has not been
studied," says Martin Magnusson.

Hannes Holm, resident physician in cardiology at Skaane University
Hospital and post doc in Martin Magnusson's research group, emphasises
that the study only shows a link between the results of the cognitive
tests and the rehospitalisation and death of heart failure patients.

"As yet, we still do not know if it is the cognitive impairment that has
this effect on the prognosis of heart failure patients, or if it is the
heart failure itself that affects the cognition," says Hannes Holm.

It has also not been studied how heart failure patients would react to
being screened for cognitive function and then receive cognitive support
in their heart failure treatment.

"This is something we want to look at further. If our hypothesis is
correct, it could mean that this patient group can be offered greater
support in their cognitive ability, which in turn can be a simple and
pragmatic way to save more lives," says Martin Magnusson.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Lund_University. Note: Content may
be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Hannes Holm, Erasmus Bachus, Amra Jujic, Erik D. Nilsson, Benjamin
Wadstro"m, John Molvin, Lennart Minthon, Artur Fedorowski,
Katarina Na"gga, Martin Magnusson. Cognitive test results are
associated with mortality and rehospitalization in heart failure:
Swedish prospective cohort study. ESC Heart Failure, 2020 DOI:
10.1002/ehf2.12909 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200826104232.htm

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