Cognition in heart failure: An overview of the concepts and their measures

Abstract

Purpose: To review cognitive impairment and explore current measurement concerns faced by nurse practitioners caring for individuals with heart failure. Data sources: Review of peer-reviewed research articles published on the topic. Conclusions: Cognitive impairment is prevalent among individuals with heart failure. Impairment frequently involves one or more domains, including attention, memory, and executive function. No gold standard screening measure was identified from the reviewed literature. Implications for practice: It is imperative that clinicians are aware of cognitive impairment and its implications for their patients with heart failure. Cognitive impairment likely contributes to multiple clinical implications, including a decreased ability to attend to and comprehend patient education materials and an inability to appropriately assess and self-manage symptoms. ©2011 The Author(s) Journal compilation ©2011 American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.