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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
07:30
Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
Heart failure and cognitive impairment: a narrative review
Izabella Uchmanowicz1,2, Heba Aldossary3,4, Maria Próba1
1Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
ESC Heart Failure
|July 13, 2026
Summary
Heart failure (HF) is linked to cognitive impairment (CI) in half of patients, impacting health outcomes. Early identification of CI in HF patients is crucial for better management and decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) affects over 64 million globally, posing a significant health burden.
- Cognitive impairment (CI) is a common comorbidity in HF patients (40-50%), worsening prognosis.
- CI in HF is underdiagnosed and undertreated in clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical implications of CI in HF.
- To highlight the prognostic significance and therapeutic considerations of CI in HF.
- To identify research priorities for CI in the context of heart failure.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of current evidence.
- Synthesis of data on HF and CI pathophysiology.
- Analysis of clinical assessment and prognostic impact.
Main Results:
- CI independently predicts mortality, hospitalizations, and reduced self-care in HF.
- Mechanisms include hypoperfusion, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and shared risk factors.
- Early CI detection is vital for optimizing HF management.
Conclusions:
- CI is a critical, underrecognized complication of HF with significant adverse outcomes.
- Understanding the multifactorial pathophysiology is key to developing targeted interventions.
- Systematic screening and management of CI should be integrated into HF care.
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