[Cognitive functions, EEG and gait disorders in cardiac arrhythmias, one day before and eight days after pacemaker...

Cognitive functions, gait disorders and EEG in cardiac arrhythmias, 1 day before (D-1) and 8 days after pacemaker implantation (D8). Out of 1200 consecutive patients, hospitalized for a pacemaker (PM) implantation, only 208 women and 242 men had been examined twice and formed the study group (PMG, mean age = 77.8 +/- 10.2). The 160 patients (64 M, 96 F, mean age 78.6 +/- 9.8) of the control group (CG) had no PM and no known cardiac disease.

At the first examination, mental deterioration was between 5 and 6 times more frequent in both the PMG and CG than in general population of the same age (75% vs 10-15%). At the second examination, the mean total scores of the PM patients in the four tests had increased significantly relative, to D-1 (p < 1 x 10(-4)) and relative to the CG (X2 = 78.82, p < .0001). This improvement was also found in each of four tests (MMSE p = 4 x 10(-6), Benton p = 6 x 10(-4), Rey Copy p = 1 x 10(-12), Rey Memory p = 5 x 10(-14)). The mental deterioration among the women in the PMG was significantly more marked than among the men (D-1: p < .007; D8: p < .014). 51% of the PMG and 71.4% of the CG had EEG abnormalities. The corresponding values on D8 were 23.3% and 67% (p < .001). In the PMG, 63% of the normal and abnormal EEGs showed a tendency for the background rhythms frequencies to increase (p < .001). On D-1, 61% of patients in the PMG had walking and gait disorders compared to only 13% on D8. Walking velocity increased (p = 1 x 10(-8)). Cognitive functions, gait disorders and EEG abnormalities are correlated (p < .001). 15% of patients improved eyesight and 20% a sensation of "warmth" in the extremities. A neuropsychiatric pathology which is varying from anxio-depression to dementia during dysrrhythmias are frequent and often unrecognized. The pathology was reversed in 14% of cases and improved in 67%.