Objective: The relationship between left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and cognitive impairment (CI) has been discussed. The present study was performed to elucidate the relation between cognitive function and LV diastolic dysfunction in patients with various cardiovascular diseases.
Methods and results: The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and echocardiography with tissue Doppler analysis were performed in 81 patients with various cardiovascular diseases and preserved LV ejection fraction (EF>40%). Among them, 13 patients exhibited CI (MMSE score <24) and the remaining 68 did not (MMSE score > or =24). Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were elevated in those with CI, compared with those without (CI: 137+/-142 pg/ml vs. no CI: 60+/-49 pg/ml, p<0.007). The ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to early mitral annular myocardial velocity by tissue Doppler was elevated in those with CI, compared with those without (CI: 6.1+/-1.3 vs. no CI: 4.6+/-1.3, p<0.0003). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was also higher in those with CI (CI: 46% vs. no CI: 18%, p<0.025).
Conclusions: The occurrence of cognitive impairment increased with the prevalence of diabetes in elderly patients with cardiovascular diseases and deteriorated LV diastolic dysfunction.