Prevalence of memory disorders in ambulatory patients aged ≥70 years with chronic heart failure (from the EFICARE study)

Abstract

The aim of this multicenter observational study conducted in France was to determine the prevalence of memory impairment in ambulatory patients aged≥70 years with chronic heart failure (HF). Two hundred ninety-one cardiologists recruited 912 ambulatory patients with HF (mean age 79.2±5.8 years) from January to November 2009. Memory was evaluated by the delayed-recall Memory Impairment Screen (MIS-D). Memory impairment was defined as MIS-D score≤6 and severe memory impairment as MIS-D score≤4. HF was diagnosed 4.4±4.8 years earlier and mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 43.6±12.0%. Memory impairment was found in 416 subjects (45.6%, 95% confidence interval 42.4 to 48.8) and severe memory impairment in 213 subjects (23.4%, 95% confidence interval 20.6 to 26.1), whereas cardiologists only suspected memory impairment in 109 patients (12%; before evaluation by MIS). Determinants of memory disorders included older age, lower education level, depression, history of stroke, renal failure, and less regular physical activity. The severity of memory impairment increased with increasing severity of HF (New York Heart Association classification; p<0.00001). In conclusion, memory impairment in older patients with HF is common. The use of a simple-to-use tool such as the MIS-D may identify patients at risk and enable implementation of management strategies to improve therapeutic compliance.