Association between cognitive function and parameters of echocardiography and coronary artery angiography

ABSTRACT We aimed to determine whether there is an association between cognition and the results of echocardiography and angiography, based on neuropsychological assessments. Methods: We assessed the cognition of 85 patients who had recently undergone coronary artery angiography. We calculated the Gensini score for the coronary artery disease index. We also performed echocardiography to find indices of cardiac functioning. Results: The lower left ventricular ejection fraction correlated with lower scores on visuospatial, executive function, processing speed/attention and verbal memory capacities (p ≤ 0.05). A higher Gensini score and left atrial size correlated with lower executive function and processing speed/attention (p ≤ 0.05). In the group of patients with an impaired cognitive state, higher Gensini scores correlated with decreased processing speed/attention (p = 0.01) and the e' index was associated with lower capacity of executive function (p = 0.05). Conclusion: Decreased processing speed/attention and executive function may correlate with cardiac dysfunction and coronary artery disease. The Color Trail Test may be considered for simple screening for cognitive problems in elderly patients with coronary artery disease or diastolic dysfunction.

摘要
本研究旨在基于神经心理学评估（neuropsychological assessments），明确认知功能与超声心动图（echocardiography）及血管造影（angiography）结果之间是否存在关联。

研究方法
我们对85名近期接受过冠状动脉造影（coronary artery angiography）的患者开展认知功能评估，计算用于评价冠状动脉疾病（coronary artery disease）的Gensini评分（Gensini score），同时通过超声心动图检测获取心脏功能相关指标。

研究结果
左心室射血分数（left ventricular ejection fraction）降低与视空间能力、执行功能、处理速度/注意力及言语记忆能力评分降低呈显著相关（p ≤ 0.05）。Gensini评分升高及左心房内径（left atrial size）增大与执行功能及处理速度/注意力降低呈显著相关（p ≤ 0.05）。在认知功能受损的患者亚组中，Gensini评分升高与处理速度/注意力降低呈显著相关（p = 0.01），而e'指数（e' index）与执行功能降低相关（p = 0.05）。

研究结论
处理速度/注意力降低及执行功能下降可能与心脏功能异常及冠状动脉疾病相关。针对合并冠状动脉疾病或舒张功能障碍（diastolic dysfunction）的老年患者，可考虑采用颜色连线测验（Color Trail Test）对其认知问题进行简易筛查。