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Left ventricular dysfunction: a clue to cognitive impairment in older patients with heart failure
Zuccalà G, Cattel C, Manes-Gravina E, Di Niro MG, Cocchi A, Bernabei R.. Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, 1997-10-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objectives Cognitive impairment has been reported in middle aged patients with end stage heart failure. This cross sectional study assessed the prevalence and determinants of cognitive dysfunction in older patients with mild to moderate heart failure. Methods 57 consecutive patients (mean age 76.7 years) with chronic heart failure underwent physical examination, blood chemistry, urinalysis, chest radiography ECG, Doppler echocardiography, and the mini mental state examination (MMSE), mental deterioration battery, depression scale of the Center for Epidemiological Studies (CES-D), Katz activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living 24 hours before hospital discharge.
Key findings
- This cross sectional study assessed the prevalence and determinants of cognitive dysfunction in older patients with mild to moderate heart failure.
- Methods 57 consecutive patients (mean age 76.7 years) with chronic heart failure underwent physical examination, blood chemistry, urinalysis, chest radiography ECG, Doppler echocardiography, and the mini mental state examination (MMSE), mental deterioration battery, depression scale of the Center for Epidemiological Studies (CES-D), Katz activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living 24 hours before hospital discharge.
- Results MMSE scores Conclusion Cognitive impairment in older patients with chronic heart failure is common, and independently associated with lower left ventricular ejection fraction.
- Given the overwhelming incidence and prevalence of heart failure in older populations, early detection of cognitive impairment in these subjects with prompt, intensive treatment of left ventricular systolic dysfunction may prevent or delay a remarkable proportion of dementia in advanced age.
Why it matters
In 57 older patients with mild to moderate heart failure, cognitive impairment was common and was linked to left ventricular dysfunction. This describes an association only and does not show that treating heart failure prevents or cures Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry: journal h-index 336 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1997 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 254 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.2 citations a year over 31 year(s) since 1997 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 5 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 11 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Roberto Bernabei: h-index 113 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore: institution h-index 606 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 9343133) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.63.4.509
- PubMed: 9343133
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Zuccalà, G., Cattel, C., Manes-Gravina, E., Di Niro, M. G., Cocchi, A., & Bernabei, R. (1997). Left ventricular dysfunction: a clue to cognitive impairment in older patients with heart failure. Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.63.4.509
Vancouver
Zuccalà G, Cattel C, Manes-Gravina E, Di Niro MG, Cocchi A, Bernabei R. Left ventricular dysfunction: a clue to cognitive impairment in older patients with heart failure. Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry. 1997. doi:10.1136/jnnp.63.4.509. PMID: 9343133.
BibTeX
@article{zuccala1997-9343133,
author = {Zuccalà, G. and Cattel, C. and Manes-Gravina, E. and Di Niro, M. G. and Cocchi, A. and Bernabei, R.},
title = {{Left ventricular dysfunction: a clue to cognitive impairment in older patients with heart failure}},
journal = {Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry},
year = {1997},
doi = {10.1136/jnnp.63.4.509},
pmid = {9343133},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.63.4.509}
}
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