Abstract 9159: Mindfulness Training, Cognitive Function and Interoceptive Awareness in Heart Failure Outpatients: Preliminary Findings

Abstract

Introduction: Cognitive impairment affects up to 2/3 of patients with heart failure (HF) and is an important barrier to HF self-care. Adequate interoceptive awareness (the ability to sense and interpret signals from within the body) is also relevant in this context, in that it allows patients to recognize the worsening of symptoms, receive treatment sooner, and prevent hospital re-admissions. As a secondary analysis from a single arm pilot RCT (NCT03571581), we explored effects of phone-delivered Mindfulness Training (MT) on cognitive function and interoceptive awareness in outpatients with NYHA class I-III HF. Methods: Participants received a weekly, 30-minute phone-delivered MT session for 8 weeks integrated with daily guided individual practice. Assessments of memory, attention, and executive function (NIH Toolbox); interoceptive awareness (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness/MAIA), and exercise capacity (6-min walk test/6MWT), were conducted at baseline and end of treatment (EOT). Results: We enrolled 33 patients (32% women; 32% minorities; mean age 62 years). Baseline cognitive function was normal. At EOT, we observed improvements in all the cognitive domains considered (Table 1A; p <.05 for the Flanker test) and in MAIA scores (p < .05 - Table 1B). 6MWT distance increased from 349.9 (92.6) to 377.7 (97) meters, p <.05). Conclusions: MT was associated with improvements in cognitive function, interoceptive awareness, and functional status. If confirmed in a large RCT, these findings could pave the way to the integration of MT into rehabilitation programs to improve clinical outcomes in this vulnerable population.