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Heart and brain matters in heart failure: a literature review

Ponrathi Athilingam1, Kathleen B King

  • 1Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, NY, USA.

The Journal of the New York State Nurses' Association
|August 8, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Heart failure patients face a higher risk of cognitive deficits, impacting self-care and increasing hospital readmissions. Simple screening tools are needed for early detection and intervention to prevent severe cognitive decline.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Heart failure (HF) patients exhibit a doubled risk of cognitive deficits compared to the general population.
  • Cognitive impairment in HF can lead to poor adherence to self-care, delayed medical attention, and increased hospital readmissions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the prevalence and consequences of cognitive impairment in heart failure patients.
  • To emphasize the need for a simple cognitive screening tool for nurses to detect early changes in HF patients.

Main Methods:

  • This study is a review of existing literature on cognitive function in heart failure patients.
  • It identifies the barriers to routine cognitive screening in this population.

Main Results:

  • Cognitive deficits are common in HF, yet screening is not standard practice.
  • Lack of a simple screening tool and the misconception of cognitive changes as normal aging are key barriers.

Conclusions:

  • Early identification of subtle cognitive changes, such as forgetfulness, is crucial.
  • Developing a simple screening tool for nurses can guide interventions to prevent severe cognitive impairment and low cardiac output states.

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