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Neuropsychological deficits in asymptomatic atrial fibrillation
Author(s) -
Farina E.,
Magni E.,
Ambrosini F.,
Manfredini R.,
Binda A.,
Sina C.,
Mariani C.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1997.tb00289.x
Subject(s) - asymptomatic , neuropsychology , medicine , cardiology , subclinical infection , atrial fibrillation , audiology , cognition , sinus rhythm , cognitive disorder , cognitive impairment , disease , psychiatry
Objective ‐ To assess the preclinical effects on cognitive functions of nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation (NRAF) in patients with negative history for cerebrovascular disease. Materials and methods ‐ The study included 37 consecutive patients with chronic ( n = 16, mean age 65.3±6.6 years) or paroxysmal ( n =21, mean age 58.3±9.5 years) NRAF and an equal number of control subjects in sinus rhythm, who were matched for age, education and presence of hypertension. A comprehensive neuropsychological battery including tests of attention, memory, language and visuospatial skills was administered. Results ‐ Patients with chronic NRAF showed significantly poorer performances in tasks exploring attention and verbal memory functions, while the paroxysmal group was significantly impaired in a long‐term memory task. The neuropsychological findings were confirmed excluding from both groups patients with CT evidence of cerebrovascular damage. A small subgroup of patients was also submitted to cerebral MRI. Conclusion ‐ Neurologically asymptomatic NRAF is related to a subclinical but significant impairment in attention and memory. These deficits could be produced by minor ischemic lesions due to microembolization, or by diffuse hypoxic damage due to hypoperfusion.