Cognitive Impairment in Cardiovascular Patients after Myocardial Infarction: Prospective Clinical Study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Cognitive function assessment is not standard for cardiac patients, limiting current knowledge.
• Myocardial infarction (MI) can impact cognitive health, necessitating further investigation.
• Understanding post-MI cognitive function is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the frequency of cognitive impairment (CI) in patients following a myocardial infarction (MI).
• To identify factors influencing the occurrence and persistence of CI post-MI.
• To evaluate changes in cognitive function over a six-month period after MI.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 468 patients hospitalized for MI.
• Cognitive function was assessed twice: during initial hospitalization and at six months post-MI.
• The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was utilized to detect cognitive impairment.

Main Results:

• Cognitive dysfunction was present in 37% of patients during hospitalization, decreasing to 25% at six months (p < 0.001).
• Factors like GFR, BNP, ejection fraction, and SYNTAX score differentiated patients with CI initially; LDL and HCT levels were significant at six months.
• A high prevalence of non-cognitive mental disorders, including depression and sleep disturbances, was observed.

Conclusions:

• Post-MI patients exhibit a high prevalence of cognitive impairment and other mental health issues.
• Worsened cardiac function (EF, BNP), coronary atherosclerosis severity (SYNTAX), RBC parameters, and LDL levels significantly impact CI in post-MI patients.