Verbal learning in cardiac transplant candidates: A preliminary report

Abstract

Previous research has found that cardiac transplant candidates demonstrate impaired verbal learning, as measured by the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT). The present study investigated verbal learning in transplant candidates to provide preliminary data on the nature of the verbal learning impairment. Two samples of cardiac transplant candidates and one sample of heart-lung transplant candidates received the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) as part of a precandidacy psychological evaluation. The three samples were grouped according to transplant type and ejection fraction (EF): 6 heart-lung transplant candidates (mean EF=62.50), 11 “high-EF” heart transplant candidates (mean EF=32.10), and 12 “low-EF” heart transplant candidates (mean EF=14.20). All three samples evidenced impaired learning ability, relative to age-matched norms from the CVLT manual. A repeated-measure ANOVA found main effects on group and trial (1–5) factors and a group x trial interaction. Univariate ANOVAs on the CVLT revealed significant group differences on short-delay free recall and cued recall, semantic clustering, primary recall, and middle recall. Post hoc analyses found the low-EF heart transplant sample to be impaired on the CVLT measures compared to the other two samples. The pattern of results indicates that cardiac transplant candidates evidence verbal learning deficits and that patients' EF relates to the extent of their verbal learning ability.