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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

Pulse pressure and mild cognitive impairment

Teodora Yaneva-Sirakova1, Rumiana Tarnovska-Kadreva, Latchezar Traykov

  • 1Cardiology Clinic, University Hospital 'Alexandrovska' Sofia, Bulgaria. teodora.yaneva@gmail.com

Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine (Hagerstown, Md.)
|August 30, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Elevated pulse pressure (PP), a measure of blood pressure, is linked to cognitive impairment in patients with hypertension. This finding highlights PP as an important indicator of cardiovascular risk and target organ damage.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Suboptimal blood pressure (BP) control increases cardiovascular risk and risk for cognitive impairment.
  • Pulse pressure (PP) is an underestimated risk factor for target organ damage, assessed via ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) or self-measurement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between pulse pressure and cognitive function in hypertensive patients.
  • To determine if elevated PP is a predictor of cognitive impairment.

Main Methods:

  • 148 hypertensive patients (mean age 64.16 years) underwent medical history, physical examination, lab screening, and ABPM.
  • Neuropsychological tests (Mini Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment) assessed cognitive function.

Main Results:

  • Regression analysis revealed a correlation between day/night PP and neuropsychological test results.
  • Significant differences in cognitive test scores were observed between groups with PP >50 mmHg and ≤50 mmHg (P=0.02 for MMSE).
  • Daytime PP (P=0.01) and nighttime PP (P=0.02) differed significantly between patients with and without cognitive impairment.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated PP, day or night, correlates with cognitive impairment in hypertensive individuals.
  • PP serves as a marker for large artery stiffness and target organ damage, even in younger hypertensive patients.
Abstract

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