Attention as the primary cognitive domain affected in post-myocardial infarction cognitive impairment: a prospective multicenter study

We analysed cognitive impairment (CI) during the peri-myocardial infarction (MI) period and after 6 months. The study included 326 patients. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Clock Drawing Test (CDT). Routine laboratory and echocardiography data were collected. We distinguished 4 groups of patients: 1 - CI present peri-infarction and after 6 months; 2 - CI present only peri-infarction; 3 - CI present only after 6 months; 4 - without CI. Groups constituted 8.9%, 16.3%, 7.7% and 67.1% of participants (as assessed by MMSE), respectively. In those who improved (group 2) or with worsened cognitive function (group 3), analogous changes in attention function occurred. There was a group of patients with CI on the MMSE who performed the CDT correctly, 12% peri-infarct and 11% at 6-month follow-up, respectively. Patients with a normal CDT score but CI found in the MMSE had impaired attention function. Cognitive function improves in some patients, and deteriorates in others after MI. The uniform type of impaired cognitive function allows us to assume a uniform etiology of CI. Performing the CDT and using the MMSE component assessing attention could prove sufficient for the initial assessment of cognitive functions in patients after MI.