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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
07:30

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions

Published on: April 23, 2021

Prevalence and determinants of cognitive impairment in chronic heart failure patients

Stéphanie Debette1, Christophe Bauters, Didier Leys

  • 1Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Lille, Lille, France.

Congestive Heart Failure (Greenwich, Conn.)
|August 4, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Cognitive impairment is common in patients hospitalized for chronic heart failure (CHF) decompensation. This condition affects patients regardless of their history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, highlighting a significant link between heart and brain health.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Geriatrics

Background:

  • Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a complex condition with multifaceted impacts on patient health.
  • Cognitive impairment is an understudied complication in CHF patients, particularly during decompensation events.
  • Understanding cognitive function in CHF is crucial for comprehensive patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients hospitalized for CHF decompensation.
  • To identify factors associated with cognitive impairment in this patient population.
  • To explore the relationship between CHF severity and cognitive function.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study involving 83 patients hospitalized for CHF decompensation.
  • Utilized the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to assess cognitive function.
  • Administered questionnaires to gather data on cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) and transient ischemic attacks (TIA).

Main Results:

  • A significant proportion of patients exhibited cognitive impairment (61% with MMSE ≤ 28, 31% with MMSE < 24).
  • Factors associated with lower MMSE scores included atrial fibrillation/flutter, NYHA class IV, and higher education levels.
  • Cognitive impairment was prevalent even when excluding patients with a history of CVA or TIA.

Conclusions:

  • Cognitive impairment is frequent in CHF decompensation patients, irrespective of cerebrovascular history.
  • The severity of cognitive impairment appears to correlate with the severity of CHF.
  • Further research is needed to investigate the impact of cognitive impairment on treatment adherence and outcomes in CHF.

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