Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Heart Failure

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of the present study is threefold: investigating 1) specific cognitive impairments in patients with congestive heart failure, 2) whether cognitive impairments in patients with decompensated heart failure improve after medical recompensation and 3) whether cognitive functioning is related to the long-term prognosis (mortality, rehospitalisation) of those patients.

Detailed Description
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The daily routine in clinical settings often shows cognitive impairments in patients with congestive heart failure. Recent studies reported declines in cognitive functioning such as executive functions, episodic memory, perceptual speed and attention. However, less is known regarding the differential impairments of cognitive functioning in patients with decompensated heart failure. Study objectives: Identifying specific cognitive impairments in patients with congestive heart failure compared to healthy controls Evaluating the influence of acute decompensation in congestive heart failure on cognitive functioning Investigating the effects of medical treatment on cognitive functioning in patients with decompensated heart failure Exploring long-term effects of cognitive and physiological status on hospitalisation and/or mortality Study design: Cognitive functions of patients with decompensated heart (NYHA III-IV) failure are compared to age and gender matched patients with congestive heart failure (NYHA III-IV) without symptoms of cardiac decompensation and with healthy controls. Decompensated patients are tested before and after medical recompensation. For matched patients and controls, the pretest-posttest timing is based on the recompensation time of the respective patient with decompensated heart failure. The neuropsychological test battery includes measures of episodic memory, working memory, short-term memory, executive functions, perceptual speed and intelligence. In addition, the study applied standardized questionnaires of self assessed quality of life and depression. Relevant physiological data, such as left ventricular systolic function and N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), are recorded.

Official Title
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Cognitive Impairment and Prognosis in Patients With Decompensated Heart Failure

Conditions
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Heart Failure, Cognitive Impairment

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: diuretics, inotropica


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Criteria of decompensated heart failure patients Inclusion Criteria: decompensated heart failure patients NYHA III-IV ejection fraction < 35% Exclusion Criteria: psychosis dementia major depression reanimation (<3month) patients with assist device system

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| decompensated heart failure patients<br> | Drug: diuretics, inotropica<br> <br> |
| chronic heart failure patients<br> | |
| healthy controls<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| cognitive function in decompensated heart failure patients measured by a cognitive test battery |  | within 48h of hospitalisation | 
| cognitive function before and after medical recompensation measured by a cognitive test battery |  | individual time to recompensate | 
| differences in cognitive performance between decompensated heart failure patients, patients with chronic heart failure and healthy controls |  |  | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| all cause mortality |  | 12 month | 
| long-term development of cognitive functioning in patients with heart failure after acute decompensation |  | 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after acute decompensation | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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cognition, decompensation, heart failure, recompensation