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Association between echocardiographic parameters of cardiac structure and function and mild cognitive impairment
Kai Zhang1,2, Xiaoxia Liu1, Siyu Huang3
1Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Office of Beijing Cardiovascular Diseases Prevention, Beijing, China.
Insights
Cardiovascular disease patients with abnormal heart structure, specifically left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and increased interventricular septal thickness, show higher rates of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). These findings highlight the link between cardiac health and cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are linked to mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
- The specific cardiac structural and functional factors contributing to MCI in CVD patients remain unclear.
- Understanding these links is crucial for early detection and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between echocardiographic parameters of cardiac structure and function and MCI in patients with CVD.
- To identify specific echocardiographic markers predictive of MCI in this population.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 1136 general CVD participants (289 MCI, 847 cognitively normal).
- Echocardiographic parameters and cognitive status (MoCA, MMSE) were analyzed.
- Statistical analyses included principal component analysis and conditional multivariate regression.
Main Results:
- MCI patients exhibited higher prevalence of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (54.0% vs. 40.3%) and greater interventricular septal thickness (IVST) (1.04 cm vs. 1.00 cm) compared to controls.
- LV diastolic dysfunction and IVST were negatively correlated with global cognitive function (MoCA scores).
- LV diastolic dysfunction and IVST were independently associated with an increased likelihood of MCI.
Conclusions:
- Abnormal echocardiographic findings, including LV diastolic dysfunction and increased IVST, are associated with cognitive decline in CVD patients.
- These cardiac parameters may serve as indicators for cognitive impairment.
- Further cognitive assessment is recommended for CVD patients with these echocardiographic abnormalities.
Background:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) marked with cardiac morphological or hemodynamical abnormalities are associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The links between cardiac structure and function and MCI are not well understood. We aimed to explore the association between echocardiographic parameters of cardiac structure and function and MCI in CVD patients.
Methods:
We conducted an age-, gender-, and education level-matched case-control study in general CVD participants with a 1:3 ratio of MCI (Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA] score < 26 and Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score ≥ 24) and cognitively normal participants at a tertiary hospital in Beijing, China. The echocardiographic cardiac parameters and cognitive status were retrieved through the clinical electronic database from May 2021 to August 2023. Principal component analysis (PCA), negative binomial, and conditional multivariate regression were performed.
Results:
A total of 1136 CVD participants (mean age, 61.2 ± 8.3 years) were included in the study, comprising 289 (25.3%) MCI and 847 cognitively normal participants. Compared to cognitively normal participants, MCI participants had a higher prevalence of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (54.0% vs. 40.3%; P < 0.001) and greater interventricular septal thickness (IVST) (1.04 ± 0.20 cm vs. 1.00 ± 0.17 cm; P = 0.002). LV diastolic dysfunction (Beta [SE], 0.234 [0.045]; P < 0.001) and IVST (Beta [SE], 0.034 [0.016]; P = 0.036) were negatively correlated with the MoCA score of global cognitive function. LV diastolic dysfunction (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.48-2.79; P < 0.001) and IVST (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.03-1.27; P = 0.014) were positively associated with MCI, independent of diagnosed CVDs and the conventional MCI risk factors.
Conclusions:
General CVD patients with abnormal echocardiographic LV diastolic dysfunction and IVST were associated with cognitive decline, suggesting further cognitive assessment for MCI.
Trial Registration:
Retrospectively registered.
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