Vascular risk factors and cognitive functions in the patients with cerebrovascular disease

Abstract

The aim: To assess the severity of cognitive impairment (CI) in patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) depending on the number of vascular risk factors (VRF). Materials and methods: The study consisted of five hundred and eighty patients with CVD (247 females and 333 males) aged from 45 to 89 years (mean age: 64,1±8,9 years). The patients were divided into 6 groups (I, II, III, IV, V, VI) depending on the number of VRF. The examination consisted of a standard clinical evaluation, neurological examination, the application of neuropsychological tests (the MMSE; the PALT/The Paired Associates Learning Test; clock drawing test), laboratory tests, MRI of brain. Results: According to ANOVA, the greater the number of VRF the patients had, the lower was their total MMSE score corresponding to more pronounced cognitive decline (F=2,97, p=0,012). A significant negative correlation between patients’ age and their MMSE score was detected regardless of their VRF count. The patients of the V and VI groups had substantially lower parameters of immediate, delayed memory and clock drawing test score comparing to the patients of the I group. Conclusions: The presence of 4 and more VRF was related to more pronounced CI in the patients with CVD. Decline of different aspects of memory, attention, spatial orientation, abstract thinking, planning, concentration, executive and visuospatial skills in groups of patients with 4,5 and 6 vascular risk factors was established. Age was substantially associated with cognitive decline in all the group of patients.