Predicted relationships between cognitive function, depressive symptoms, self-care adequacy, and health-related quality of life and major events among patients with heart failure

Cognitive decline, which often occurs in heart failure, is likely to decrease health-related quality of life and increase morbidity and mortality (major events), but it has been scantly addressed.

To examine whether baseline cognitive domains of global cognition, memory and executive function predict baseline health-related quality of life and 15-month major events among patients with heart failure.

This prospective study included 117 patients (mean age 65.5 ± 9.42 years; men 58.1%; New York Heart Association class III/IV 25.6%), who completed questionnaires, including neuropsychological testing for cognitive evaluation, depressive symptoms, self-care and health-related quality of life measures. Their 15-month major events were extracted from medical record reviews.

Approximately one-third of the sample had cognitive impairment. Forty-one patients (35.0%) experienced major events. Patients with major events had significantly worse memory (immediate recall memory 13.9 vs. 11.5, P=0.030; delayed recall memory 4.3 vs. 3.1, P=0.014) and reduced executive function (trail-making test A 28.1 vs. 38.0 seconds, P=0.031). After controlling for age, sex, heart failure severity and comorbidity, memory loss with depressive symptoms was associated with worse health-related quality of life, and odds ratios of experiencing major events increased only with reduced cognitive function in global cognition and executive function.

Cognitive function is an important factor for health-related quality of life and major events, and memory loss – worsened health-related quality of life and poor executive function was more likely to increase the risk of major events. Future studies should consider both cognitive function and depressive symptoms when designing heart failure interventions to improve patient outcomes.