One-year follow-up evaluation of cognitive function in patients with coronary artery disease and over 65 years of age in Isfahan city, Iran

Abstract

Background: Vascular diseases and cognitive impairment are prevalent in elder people. Association between cardiovascular diseases and cognitive dysfunction is reported in previous studies and there are limited studies followed patients with cardiovascular diseases for cognitive functions. This study aimed to evaluate patients with coronary artery diseases and over 65 years of age for cognitive function. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study on patients undergoing coronary artery angiography in Sina and Chamran hospitals, Isfahan City, Iran, during 2015-2016. At first, Neuropsychiatry Unit Cognitive Assessment Tool (NUCog), Tower of London (TOL) test, Color Trail Test (CTT) and Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) were done for all participants and after one year, these patients were again evaluated for cognitive function. Findings: 85 patients with mean age of 65.78 ± 5.30 years were evaluated; of them, 85.9 were men. The mean score of NUCog test was not statistically different between the beginning and end of the study (P = 0.670). The mean scores of MMSE and TOL tests and also the mean time of TOL test were statistically different between the first and second evaluation (P = 0.030, P = 0.020, and P < 0.001, respectively). The mean score differences during the study were significant in CTT1 and non-significant in CTT2 (P = 0.007 and P = 0.220, respectively). Conclusion: Generally, presence of cardiovascular disease especially coronary artery disease can deteriorate cognitive function in elder patients over times. © 2017, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.