Mapping cognitive function screening instruments for patients with heart failure: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Neurology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Heart failure (HF) patients frequently experience cognitive impairment, impacting quality of life.
• Effective cognitive screening is crucial for HF management by nurses and healthcare professionals.
• Existing tools are not HF-specific.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and map cognitive function screening instruments used in heart failure (HF) patients.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for articles published between 2019 and 2023.
• Included 21 articles meeting specific inclusion criteria.

Main Results:

• Six cognitive function screening instruments were identified across inpatient and outpatient HF settings.
• The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was the most frequently used tool, demonstrating high efficacy (kappa=0.82, sensitivity=90%, specificity=87%).
• Other promising tools include Mini-Cog and TICS-m.

Conclusions:

• MoCA, Mini-Cog, and TICS-m show potential for cognitive assessment in HF patients.
• MoCA offers comprehensive domain coverage but can be time-consuming and face language barriers.
• Further research is needed to revalidate and enhance these instruments for HF patient management.