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Relationship between cognitive function and 6-minute walking test in older outpatients with chronic heart failure

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Abstract

Background and aims: Cognitive decline and heart failure frequently coexist in the elderly. Although an epidemiologic association may partially explain this finding, cerebral hypoperfusion and cardioembolism have been advocated as pathophysiological links. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between mild cognitive decline and exercise capacity in older outpatients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: We studied 80 elderly outpatients with stable CHF, mainly of ischemic etiology, assessing total exercise capacity with the 6-minute walking test (6MWT) and global cognitive function with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). CHF severity, emotional status, comorbidity, disability and disease-specific quality of life were also determined at the time of enrolment. Results: A positive association was observed between the distance walked at 6MWT and MMSE score, even after adjusting for demographic parameters, indexes of CHF severity, comorbidities, level of disability, and quality of life. Conclusions: An easy and reliable measure of cardiovascular global performance is independently associated with cognitive function in older outpatients affected by CHF. In the context of global aging, this observation emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive assessment, encompassing a standard, brief and reliable cognitive evaluation, in elderly CHF outpatients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Geriatric Medicine and Cardiology, Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery, University of Florence, Via delle Oblate 4, 50134, Florence, Italy

    Samuele Baldasseroni MD, PhD, Enrico Mossello, Benedetta Romboli, Francesco Orso, Claudia Colombi, Stefano Fumagalli, Andrea Ungar, Francesca Tarantini, Giulio Masotti & Niccolò Marchionni

  2. Unit of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, University of Florence and Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy

    Samuele Baldasseroni MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Samuele Baldasseroni MD, PhD
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  2. Enrico Mossello
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  3. Benedetta Romboli
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  4. Francesco Orso
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  5. Claudia Colombi
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  6. Stefano Fumagalli
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  7. Andrea Ungar
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  8. Francesca Tarantini
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  9. Giulio Masotti
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  10. Niccolò Marchionni
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Correspondence to Samuele Baldasseroni MD, PhD.

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Baldasseroni, S., Mossello, E., Romboli, B. et al. Relationship between cognitive function and 6-minute walking test in older outpatients with chronic heart failure. Aging Clin Exp Res 22, 308–313 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324936

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324936

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