Evaluation of Cognitive Function Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is associated with procedural-related neurological events and acute cognitive decline. However, data on the effect of TAVR on mid-term cognitive outcome are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to assess the impact of TAVR on mid-term cognitive outcome using different neurocognitive test batteries. METHODS: Patients with severe aortic valve stenosis scheduled for TAVR were enrolled. Cognitive assessment was performed at baseline and 4 months post-TAVR using an eight-word verbal-learning test ("Immediate Recall Memory Test" [IRMT], "Delayed Recall Memory Test" [DRMT], "Recognition of Verbal Information Test" [RVIT]), global cognitive function ("Mini Mental State Examination" [MMSE]), and executive function ("Trail Making Test" [TMT], "Clock-Drawing Test" [CDT]). RESULTS: A total of 30 patients (age: 81±6years, logistic EuroSCORE: 19±10%) completed the follow-up cognitive assessments. Postoperatively, 17% (n=5) developed delirium, 13% (n=4) received permanent pacemaker, and there were no cerebrovascular events. Mean hospital duration time was 5±2 days. Patients (n=22) who did not complete the follow-up cognitive assessments had comparable baseline, procedural and hospital outcome. At follow-up there was a significant improvement in IRMT (27±5 vs. 30±4, p=0.016), with a trend toward improved DRMT (4±2 vs. 5±2, p=0.079). Moreover, patients with lower baseline MMSE and IRMT improved significantly during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement was associated with an improved IRMT during follow-up. Both MMSE and IRMT were significantly improved among those with lower baseline scores.

Incidence, Predictive Factors, and Effect of Delirium After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence, predictive factors, and effect of post-operative delirium (POD) among patients treated by transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing operations that involve valve replacement appear at higher risk of POD than patients subjected to coronary artery bypass surgery alone. In patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR, little is known regarding the potential impact of POD on the clinical outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study of 268 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR at our institute was conducted. Delirium was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, 4th Edition criteria. The primary outcome of this study was the presence of in-hospital POD after TAVR. RESULTS: The incidence of POD after TAVR was 13.4% (n = 36). Of these cases, 18 were associated with post-procedural complications, including major vascular complications/bleeding (n = 4), stroke (n = 3), acute kidney injury (n = 3), atrial fibrillation (n = 4), and infectious disease (n = 4). POD was most frequently diagnosed on the second day after TAVR (interquartile range [IQR]: 1 to 5 days) and was associated with prolonged in-hospital stay regardless of complications (in uncomplicated TAVR: 6 days [IQR: 5 to 10 days] vs. 5 days [IQR: 4 to 5 days]; p < 0.001; and in complicated TAVR: 9 days [IQR: 8 to 15 days] vs. 6 days [IQR: 5 to 9 days]; p < 0.001). Predictors of POD were nontransfemoral (transapical/transaortic) access (odds ratio [OR]: 7.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.26 to 18.1), current smoking (OR: 3.99; 95% CI: 1.25 to 12.8), carotid artery disease (OR: 3.88; 95% CI: 1.50 to 10.1), atrial fibrillation (OR: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.17 to 6.37), and age (OR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.17, per year increase). After a median follow-up of 16 months (IQR: 6 to 27 months), POD remained an independent predictor of mortality in patients undergoing transfemoral TAVR compared with the nontransfemoral TAVR (hazard ratio: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.16 to 6.83 vs. hazard ratio: 0.43; 95% Cl: 0.10 to 1.76), adjusted for possible confounders in a time-dependent Cox-regression model (i.e., age, sex, Logistic EuroSCORE and the occurrence of complications). CONCLUSIONS: POD after TAVR has an incidence of around 13% and occurs early in the post-operative course. Nontransfemoral access is strongly associated with the occurrence of POD. Patients who develop POD show prolonged in-hospital stay and impaired long-term survival.

Effect of Vascular Risk Factors and Diseases on Mortality in Individuals with Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors on mortality in individuals with dementia. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. English- and Dutch-language studies in PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases were searched in April 2014 with hand-searching of in-text citations and no publication limitations. Inclusion criteria were original studies reporting on cardiovascular risk factors or diseases and their relationship with survival in individuals with dementia. The Quality In Prognosis Studies tool was used to appraise all included articles. SETTING: Population-, hospital-, and nursing home-based. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling, hospitalized individuals and nursing home residents with dementia. MEASUREMENTS: A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to investigate the effect of several cardiovascular diseases and risk factors on overall mortality. RESULTS: Twelve studies with 235,865 participants were included. In pooled analyses, male sex (hazard ratio (HR)=1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.56-1.78), diabetes mellitus (DM) (HR=1.49, 95% CI=1.33-1.68), smoking (ever vs never) (HR=1.37, 95% CI=1.17-1.61), coronary heart disease (CHD) (HR=1.21, 95% CI=1.02-1.44) and congestive heart failure (CHF) (HR=1.37, 95% CI=1.18-1.59) were associated with mortality. Stroke, high blood pressure, being overweight, and hypercholesterolemia were not statistically significantly related to mortality. CONCLUSION: Individuals with dementia and DM, smoking, CHD, and CHF have a greater risk of death than individuals with dementia without these risk factors or diseases.

Childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency, cognitive function and brain N-acetylaspartate.

Cognitive deficits have been reported in adults with childhood-onset growth hormone (GH) deficiency. We evaluated cognitive deficits simultaneously with parameters for neuronal integrity using (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in a cross-sectional design. We studied 11 adults (mean age 24.5 years) with childhood-onset GH deficiency, which persisted after reaching final height. All subjects were evaluated after interruption of GH supplementation for at least 3 months. We performed neuropsychological assessment (NPA) using tests evaluating memory, mental processing speed, reading ability and executive functioning. MRS was used to assess brain N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/choline ratios. Data were compared with an age-, sex- and education-matched control group (n=9, mean age 27.3 years). NPA demonstrated attenuated performance of the patients in the delayed verbal memory recall score (P<0.05) and the trail making A test (P<0.05), a measure of planning of behavior, processing speed and attention. Other neuropsychological tests were not affected. NAA/choline ratios were significantly reduced (P<0.01) in GH deficient subjects. Specific cognitive defects indicating affected memory and attention were found in patients with childhood-onset GH deficiency. These defects occur simultaneously with reduced neuronal integrity.