Abstract 11505: Left Ventricular Mass Index and Risk of Cognitive Decline in a General Elderly Population (Tanushimaru Cohort Study)

Abstract

Introduction: Elevated cardiovascular disease risk factor burden is a recognized contributor to poorer cognitive function. Recent cohort study suggested that higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels predicted incident dementia. However, there is little study of the longitudinal association between left ventricular (LV) structure and future cognitive decline. Hypothesis: LV structure is associated with cognitive decline. Methods: We recruited 1943 participants (mean age: 65.8±11.3 years, male 39.9%) as a population-based sample of Tanushimaru, Japan in 2009 and followed 837 adults in 2018 after excluding those with heart disease history. The subjects received 2-dimensional echocardiography to quantify LV mass index (LVMI) in 2009. The 30-point Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess cognitive function in 2009 and in 2018. We classified MMSE scores ≦23, 24-27, ≥28 as dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and normal cognition (NC). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between LVMI and cognitive decline. Results: Mean MMSE scores in 2009 and in 2018 among 837 participants were 28.1±2.0 and 28.4±2.3, respectively. Cognitive status progressed from NC to MCI/dementia in 19.3% (96/498) or from NC/MCI to dementia in 2.9% (24/826). Mean LVMI levels were 81.9±19.7g/m2 in men and 76.5±18.4g/m2 in women. Conversion from NC to MCI/dementia was not associated with LVMI, while larger LVMI was significantly associated with the progression from NC/MCI to dementia (p=0.002). Age, sex-adjusted odds ratio for progression to dementia was 1.50 (95% confidence interval, 1.16-1.97) as LVMI increased by 10 g/m2. The association was independent of body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and microalbuminuria. LVMI > 90.6 g/m 2 in men and > 99.9 g/m 2 in women accurately predicted progression to dementia (p < 0.0001). These cutoff points were smaller in men and larger in women than the current criteria for LV hypertrophy. Conclusions: Larger LVMI was not associated with early stage of cognitive decline, but can be a risk factor for progression to dementia. We recommend to carefully evaluate cognitive function among at-risk individuals with larger LVMI.