Correlation between Body Mass Index and Cognitive Function in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Neurology
• Public Health

Background:

• Limited evidence exists on the association between body mass index (BMI) and cognitive function.
• Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia.
• Understanding factors influencing cognitive function in AF patients is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the independent relationship between BMI and cognitive function in Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation.
• To adjust for potential confounding factors in the analysis.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 281 hospitalized atrial fibrillation patients.
• Data collected included general information, BMI, medical history, and medication history.
• Cognitive function assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale.

Main Results:

• A total of 244 patients were analyzed (average age 67.28 years, 55.3% male).
• A significant curve correlation was found between BMI and cognitive function, with an inflection point at 24.56 kg/m².
• Below 24.56 kg/m², each unit increase in BMI correlated with a 0.43-point increase in MoCA score (effect size 0.43, 95% CI 0.01-0.85).

Conclusions:

• In atrial fibrillation patients with BMI below 24.56 kg/m², higher BMI is associated with better cognitive function.
• A BMI below 24.56 kg/m² appears to be a protective factor for cognitive function in this cohort.
• Atrial fibrillation patients with normal BMI are encouraged to maintain their weight for potential cognitive benefits.