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Neuropsychological functioning among heart transplant candidates: a case control study
J D Putzke1, M A Williams, J F Daniel
1Division of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology
|January 29, 2000
Summary
Patients with end-stage heart disease awaiting transplantation show impaired neuropsychological function. This includes deficits in fine motor skills, psychomotor speed, mental flexibility, and abstract reasoning compared to healthy controls.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neuropsychology
Background:
- End-stage heart disease necessitates transplantation.
- Routine evaluation includes assessing transplant eligibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine neuropsychological performance in heart transplant candidates.
- To compare cognitive function between candidates and matched controls.
Main Methods:
- Matched case-control study design.
- 44 heart transplant candidates and 44 matched controls.
- Neuropsychological tests assessed motor speed, dexterity, mental flexibility, and abstract reasoning.
Main Results:
- Heart transplant candidates performed significantly worse than controls.
- Deficits observed in fine motor speed and dexterity (Grooved Peg Board).
- Impaired psychomotor speed, mental flexibility (Trail Making Test B), and abstract reasoning (Shipley Abstract).
Conclusions:
- Heart transplant candidates exhibit significant cognitive impairments.
- These deficits may impact recovery and long-term outcomes post-transplantation.
- Further research is needed to understand implications and potential interventions.