STIFFNESS OF ARTERIES AND LEFT ATRIUM AS PREDICTORS FOR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN CARDIOLOGY PATIENTS.

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the relationship between cognitive function and the data of volumetric sphygmography and speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with heart arrhythmias.

Materials and methods: Monocentral cohort study with 33 patients. Group 1 - patients with frequent extrasystoles (ES) of II and more class by Lown (n = 12; 47-79 years old), group 2 - with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) (n = 14; 50-81 years old) and control group - without serious cardiovascular diseases (n = 7; 46-75 years old).

Methods: lipidograms, 24 hours ECG monitoring, TTE, volumetric sphygmography. For cognitive function evaluation, we used the standard MoCA Test.

Results: Post hoc analysis according to Dunn showed that groups 1 and 2 differed in LA volume (p = 0.002, ε² = 0.34) and MoCA (p = 0.007, ε² = 0.30). Differences between groups 2 and control were also significant for LA volume (p = 0.024) and MoCA (p = 0.045). We observed a decreasing of cognitive function in both main groups, mostly in with paroxysmal AF. Statistically significant differences in GLS between 1 and 2 group - it was lower in group 2, characterizing the decreasing of LV systolic function.

Conclusions: In patients with frequent ES and paroxysmal AF, develop a cognitive impairment, mostly in the group with paroxysmal AF. Increased arterial stiffness parameters (R-CAVI, L-CAVI) and LA structural changes (increased LA volume, decreased LA strain) are significant predictors of cognitive impairment. The group of patients with paroxysmal AF differed most significantly from the control group in all key parameters.