Resumo

RUIZ, Silvia L; DUENAS, Ruby E; GOMEZ, Jenny C  e  GARCIA, Ronald G. Deciding factors of cognitive deficit in congestive heart failure. Rev. Colom. Cardiol. [online]. 2009, vol.16, n.6, pp.249-255. ISSN 0120-5633.

Congestive heart failure is a leading cause of hospitalization, morbidity and mortality in the Western countries. Although its incidence and prevalence in Colombia is not fully established, it seems to be acquiring epidemic proportions. Several studies have shown that patients with congestive heart failure present cognitive impairments such as memory loss and attention deficit, which are associated with a worse clinical prognosis. The cognitive symptoms are not only indicative of a more advanced heart disease but are also associated with poor adherence to treatment and lower quality of life. Despite their importance, the pathophysiological mechanisms of this relationship have not been clearly defined. It has been suggested that the cerebral hemodynamic changes resulting from a decrease in cardiac output and from the presence of multiple brain microinfarctions secondary to microembolisms could be related to cognitive impairment in patients with congestive heart failure. However, until now no sufficient data are available to confirm this hypothesis.

Palavras-chave : Congestive feart failure; cognitive impairment; cardiac output.

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