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Severity of hypertension related to cognitive impairment
Patients with hypertension were more likely to experience cognitive impairment compared with those without hypertension, and cognitive impairment was associated with the severity of hypertension, according to recent findings.
Language, processing speed, visuospatial and memory were most likely to be affected, the researchers wrote.
In a cross-sectional study, researchers examined changes in cognitive function in patients with various stages of hypertension. These patients (n = 150) were compared with control patients without hypertension (n = 71).
Based on BP levels or medication use, patients with hypertension were divided into two groups of stages. The first group (HTN-1) had systolic BP 140 mm Hg to 159 mm Hg/diastolic BP 90 mm Hg to 99 mm Hg or use of one or two antihypertensive drugs. The second group (HTN-2) had a BP 160 mm Hg systolic/100 mm Hg diastolic or use of three or more antihypertensive drugs. Each group was compared with the control group.
Cognitive function was measured using the Mini–Mental State Examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Also, a validated comprehensive series of neuropsychological tests were used, which measured six main cognitive domains.
The HTN-2 group had the worst cognitive impairment compared with the HTN-1 group and the control group based on Mini–Mental State Examination (P = .004) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (P < .001), according to the researchers.
Language, processing speed, visuospatial abilities and memory were most impaired in the patients with hypertension compared with those without hypertension when measured on the various neuropsychological tests, the researchers wrote.
The researchers found age, hypertension stage and educational level in patients with hypertension to be the best predictors of cognitive impairment.
“Our data indicate that not only the hypertensive condition, but also its severity is an important factor associated with cognitive impairment in young patients without previous manifested cerebrovascular disease and other factors affecting cognitive function,” Henrique C.S. Muela, MD, of the hypertension unit at the Heart Institute, University of São Paulo, Brazil, and colleagues wrote. – by Suzanne Reist
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.