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Gender Differences in Cognitive Test Performance in Adults With Heart Failure
Amber D Rochette1, Mary Beth Spitznagel, Lawrence H Sweet
1Amber D. Rochette, BA Graduate Student, Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Ohio. Mary Beth Spitznagel, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, and Clinical Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry, Summa Health System, Akron, Ohio. Lawrence H. Sweet, PhD Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens. Ronald A. Cohen, PhD Professor, Department of Aging & Geriatric Research, University of Florida, Gainesville. Richard Josephson, PhD Professor of Medicine, Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, and Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio. Joel Hughes, PhD Professor, Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Ohio. John Gunstad, PhD Professor, Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Ohio.
In heart failure (HF) patients, women demonstrated better memory recall than men. This study explored gender differences in cognitive function among individuals with HF, highlighting potential implications for clinical outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neuropsychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Cognitive deficits affect up to 73% of heart failure (HF) patients, correlating with increased mortality.
- While women generally outperform men in memory tasks, gender-specific cognitive differences in HF are not well-understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gender disparities in cognitive function within a cohort of heart failure patients.
- Specifically examining differences in memory and attention/executive function between men and women with HF.
Main Methods:
- 183 adults with heart failure (HF), predominantly NYHA class II and III, underwent a neuropsychological test battery.
- Tests assessed cognitive domains including attention, executive function, and memory.
Main Results:
- Women showed significantly better performance on memory tests compared to men, after controlling for covariates (P = .001).
- Specific memory improvements in women included verbal learning, short recall, and delayed recall.
- No significant gender differences were observed in attention or executive function tests (P = .44).
Conclusions:
- This study indicates that women with heart failure exhibit superior memory performance compared to men.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms behind these gender-based cognitive differences and their impact on daily functioning in HF patients.
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