Comprehensive treatment improves cognitive impairment in heart failure

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William Wagner - 29 Apr 2005 11:49 GMT

http://www.eurekalert.org/

Public release date: 29-Apr-2005
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Contact: Pamela Poppalardo
ajmmedia@elsevier.com
212-633-3944
American Journal of Medicine

Comprehensive treatment improves cognitive impairment in heart failure
patients

It is common for patients in heart failure to show cognitive
dysfunction, known in the past as "cardiogenic dementia." However, by
evaluating and treating some coexisting conditions observed in these
patients, such as salt imbalances, anemia and hyperglycemia, their
cognitive functions may improve independently of the underlying cardiac
problems.

In a study published in the current issue of The American Journal of
Medicine, researchers from the Catholic University, Rome, Italy and Wake
Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina examined records from
16,913 patients. Of these, 1511 suffered heart failure and 526 (35%)
also exhibited cognitive dysfunction. Low serum albumin, sodium and
potassium levels, hyperglycemia, anemia, and systolic blood pressure
levels were independently associated with cognitive impairment.

According to Dr. Giuseppe Zuccal, "The issue of cognitive impairment
associated with heart failure does not represent a mere academic
questionAmong older patients with heart failure, cognitive dysfunction
has been associated with a fivefold increase in the risk of mortality,
and a sixfold increase in the probability of dependence for the
activities of daily living."

Treating cognitive dysfunction independently may yield benefits. Dr.
Zuccal continues, "Our data indicate that normalization of glucose,
potassium, and hemoglobin levels during hospital stay is associated with
increased cognitive performance at discharge. This confirms the need for
a comprehensive approach to heart failure in older populations."

###

The study is reported in "Correlates of Cognitive Impairment among
Patients with Heart Failure: Results of a Multicenter Survey" by
Giuseppe Zuccal, Emanuele Marzetti, Matteo Cesari, Maria R. Lo Monaco,
Livia Antonica, Alberto Cocchi, Pierugo Carbonin, Roberto Bernabei. This
article appears in The American Journal of Medicine, Volume 118, Number
5 (May 2005), published by Elsevier.

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outrider - 29 Apr 2005 15:23 GMT

> http://www.eurekalert.org/
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> It is common for patients in heart failure to show cognitive
> dysfunction, known in the past as "cardiogenic dementia." However, by

> evaluating and treating some coexisting conditions observed in these
> patients, such as salt imbalances, anemia and hyperglycemia, their
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
> Vision problems? http://www.ocutech.com/ we own two.
> "oeuf tôt pique " Lover 39.615557 N, 75.04088 W

This relates to cognitive impairment "during hospital stay" and shortly
thereafter, perhaps up to a couple months. If statins are started, it
is quite possible that any cognitive impairment after that time is
statins induced. Physicians, including cardiologists, are missing this,
attributing it to "pump head" and other invasive heart procedures.

Here is information on statin induced adverse cognitive effects (among
others) which can occur while taking statins, linger for a long time
after stopping, and start many years into treatment.

CBS NEWS: Did you get the mail, or just think you got the mail?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/24/eveningnews/main619351.shtml

An 86 page PDF on statin adverse effects. See the index or use "find":
http://www.freewebs.com/stopped_our_statins/StatinFAQ_031305wTOCv4.pdf

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