Memory loss and decreased executive function are associated with limited functional capacity in patients with heart failure compared to patients with other medical conditions

Abstract

Background: There is limited evidence on the degree of cognitive impairment and its association with physical functional capacity among patients with heart failure (HF) in Korea.

Objectives: In this study, we compared cognitive impairment between patients with HF and community-dwelling participants with non-HF medical conditions (medical participants) and its association with physical functional capacity.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional comparative study and assessed the neuropsychological cognitive status (Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery) and physical functional capacity (Duke Activity Status Index) of patients with HF and medical participants using face-to-face interviews.

Results: One hundred and eighteen patients with HF (age, 65.45 ± 9.38 years; men, 57.6%; left ventricular ejection fraction, 34.93 ± 8.72%) and 83 medical participants (age, 66.02 ± 8.28 years; men, 47.0%) were included. Using seventh-percentile medical participant Z-scores as cutoffs, memory and executive function were worse in patients with HF than in medical participants: immediate (35.0% vs. 6.0%) and delayed recall memory (34.5% vs. 8.4%), and executive function (28.6% vs. 6.0%). Independent of age, sex, education, comorbidity, and HF status, executive function was a significant predictor of physical functional capacity (b = 1.82, p = .021).

Conclusions: More patients with HF had impaired memory and executive function, which were associated with their physical functional capacities.

Keywords: Cognitive function; Functional capacity; Heart failure; Medical conditions.