Relationship between mild cognitive decline and physical activity in patients with heart disease

Cognitive function and physical activity levels may be associated with cardiac disease in patients and older adults; however, no studies have focused specifically on the relationship of mild cognitive decline and physical activity with cardiac disease. The present study, therefore, examined the relationship between mild cognitive decline and physical activity in patients with heart disease.

The present cross-sectional study included 90 cardiac patients (median age, 72.0 years; women, 31.8 %) undergoing outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. The Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-J) was used to measure the primary outcomes and cognitive function, and physical activity was assessed using a Fitbit Inspire activity meter (Fitbit Inc.). The average number of daily steps was calculated over a seven day period, beginning the day after starting to wear the device and continuing through the day before data collection. For statistical analysis, multiple regression analysis was conducted to verify whether MoCA-J scores were related to the amount of physical activity.

The mean MoCA-J score and daily steps were 24.8 ± 2.8 points and 5298.8 ± 2171.1 steps/day, respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed that physical activity was significantly associated with MoCA-J (B = 0.001; β = 0.55; 95 % confidence interval = 0.00-0.01; P < 0.001), even after adjusting for confounding factors.

The results of the present study suggest the need for physical activity interventions to prevent mild cognitive decline in patients with heart disease.