May 2, 2012Open Access
View Full PaperCognitive impairment and risk of cardiovascular events and mortality
Structured PICO
Does cognitive impairment increase the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in people at increased CV risk?
P
Population
people at increased CV risk
I
Intervention
impairments on baseline cognitive testing (e.g., MMSE score <24)
O
Outcome
stroke, congestive heart failure, and CV deathhard clinical
Cognitive impairment, specifically an MMSE score <24, is a significant risk factor for stroke, heart failure, and cardiovascular death in patients already at increased cardiovascular risk.
Abstract
In people at increased CV risk, impairments on baseline cognitive testing are associated with a graded increase in the risk of stroke, congestive heart failure, and CV death, but not coronary events. An MMSE score of <24 increased CV disease risk to the same extent as a previous stroke.