Intermediate and long-term cognitive effects in older adults secondary to cardiovascular procedures is uncommon but current evidence is insufficient

Commentary on: Fink HA, Hemmy LS, MacDonald R, et al. Intermediate- and long-term cognitive outcomes after cardiovascular procedures in older adults: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med 2015;163:107–17 . Context Cardiovascular procedures are common in the older population.1 There is suspicion that these procedures may have a negative outcome on cognition.2 However, further research has indicated that there may have been pre-existing cognitive deficits as cognitive impairment is common in the older population.3 This systematic review examines the evidence of the relationship of coronary and carotid revascularisation, cardiac valve replacement and repair and ablation for atrial fibrillation on intermediate-term and long-term cognitive outcomes in adults 65 years or above, including the effects of procedure related stroke or transient ischaemic attack. Methods This was a systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies of adults aged 65 years or above...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Health policy, Clinical trials (epidemiology), Epidemiologic studies, Drugs: cardiovascular system, Dementia, Stroke, Interventional cardiology, Memory disorders (psychiatry), Radiology, Clinical diagnostic tests, Health service research Aetiology/Harm Source Type: research