Prediction of Cognitive Status and 5-Year Survival Rate for Elderly with Cardiovascular Diseases: A Canadian Study of Health and Aging Secondary Data Analysis

Abstract

BackgroundGiven the important association between cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline, and their significant implications on frailty status, the contribution of neurocognitive frailty measure helping with the assessment of patient outcomes is dearly needed.ObjectivesThe present study examines the prognostic value of the Neurocognitive Frailty Index (NFI) in the elderly with cardiovascular disease.DesignSecondary analysis of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) dataset was used for prediction of 5-year cognitive changes.SettingCommunity and institutional sample.ParticipantsCanadians aged 65 and over [Mean age: 80.4 years (SD=6.9; Range of 66–100)].MeasurementNeurocognitive Frailty Index (NFI) and Modified Mini-Mental State (3MS) scores for cognitive functioning of all subjects at follow-up and mortality rate were measured.ResultsThe NFI mean score was 9.63 (SD = 6.04) and ranged from 0 to 33. This study demonstrated that the NFI was significantly associated with cognitive changes for subjects with heart disease and this correlation was a stronger predictor than age.ConclusionThe clinical relevance of this study is that our result supports the prognostic utility of the NFI tool in treatment planning for those with modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors in the development of dementia.