Perceived cognitive function and emotional distress following coronary artery bypass surgery

Many patients experience decrements in cognitive function and emotional adjustment following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Moreover, cognitive decline and emotional distress are often positively related. This study evaluated the cross-sectional and prospective associations of emotional and subjective cognitive complaints, to assess the hypothesis that they would be mutually reinforcing. Participants were 76 CABG patients recruited from Akron General Medical Center. Depression and anxiety symptoms and perceived cognitive difficulties were evaluated at a baseline postsurgical visit and re-assessed 5 months later. Emotional symptoms and perceived cognitive difficulties were significantly related both within and across time. After controlling for numerous potential confounds, baseline perceived cognitive difficulties predicted a more negative course of emotional symptoms during follow-up. Baseline emotional symptoms did not predict the course of perceived cognitive difficulties. Perceptions of cognitive decline may contribute to emotional distress in patients post-CABG.