Cited 17 times since 2017 (2 per year) source: EuropePMC Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, Volume 58, Issue 1, 1 1 2017, Pages 275-283 Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Cognitive Decline in Old Age. Mahinrad S, Vriend AE, Jukema JW, van Heemst D, Sattar N, Blauw GJ, Macfarlane PW, Clark EN, de Craen AJM, Sabayan B
Background
Patients with advanced heart failure run a greater risk of dementia. Whether early cardiac structural changes also associate with cognitive decline is yet to be determined.
Objective
We tested whether left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) derived from electrocardiogram associates with cognitive decline in older subjects at risk of cardiovascular disease.
Methods
We included 4,233 participants (mean age 75.2 years, 47.8% male) from PROSPER (PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk). LVH was assessed from baseline electrocardiograms by measuring the Sokolow-Lyon index. Higher levels of Sokolow-Lyon index indicate higher degrees of LVH. Cognitive domains involving selective attention, processing speed, and immediate and delayed memory were measured at baseline and repeated during a mean follow-up of 3.2 years.
Results
At baseline, LVH was not associated with worse cognitive function. During follow-up, participants with higher levels of LVH had a steeper decline in cognitive function including in selective attention (p = 0.009), processing speed (p = 0.010), immediate memory (p < 0.001), and delayed memory (p = 0.002). These associations were independent of cardiovascular risk factors, co-morbidities, and medications.
Conclusion
LVH assessed by electrocardiogram associates with steeper decline in cognitive function of older subjects independent of cardiovascular risk factors and co-morbidities. This study provides further evidence on the link between subclinical cardiac structural changes and cognitive decline in older subjects.
