Mild Cognitive Impairment, Patient Awareness and Associated Factors in Heart Failure Patients — The Association Specialists
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Mild Cognitive Impairment, Patient Awareness and Associated Factors in Heart Failure Patients (381)

Robyn Gallagher 1 , Anne Sullivan 2 , Rhonda Burke 3 , Susan Hales 4 , Geoff Tofler 2
  1. University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, Australia
  2. MACARF, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. MACARF, Manly and Monavale Hospitals, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  4. MACARF, Ryde Hospital, Sydeny, NSW, Australia

Background. Cognitive impairments are prevalent in heart failure (HF) patients, worsening outcomes, but often undetected.
Aim. To screen HF outpatients for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), determine the areas of cognition affected, patient’s awareness of cognitive change and factors associated.
Method and results. HF patients (n = 128) newly registered for the Management of Cardiac Function (MACARF) program, free from neurocognitive disorder and visual problems were assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool (MoCA). MCI was classified by MoCA scores of ≤ 22. The sample was elderly (M 80.65, SD 11.52 years). MoCA scores were M 24.58 (SD 3.45), 22% were classified as impaired, 45% had noticed a change in cognition, which impacted on their daily lives in 15%. Patients noticing this impact had lower MoCA scores (22.74 SD 3.0) than those who did not (25.17 SD 2.96; p ≤ 0.02). Most impairments occurred for delayed recall, visuospatial/executive function and abstraction. The odds of impairment increased by the presence of ischaemic heart disease (OR 4.18 95% CI 1.15 – 15.69).
Conclusion. In HF outpatients without a dementia diagnosis, MCI is prevalent. Screening for MCI and incorporation of compensatory strategies are essential.