Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
DOI 10.1186/s13195-015-0106-5
REVIEW
Open Access
‘Hearts and minds’: association, causation and
implication of cognitive impairment in heart
failure
Jane A Cannon1, John JV McMurray1 and Terry J Quinn2*
Abstract
The clinical syndrome of heart failure is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation and mortality in older adults.
An association between cognitive impairment and heart failure is well described but our understanding of the
relationship between the two conditions remains limited. In this review we provide a synthesis of available
evidence, focussing on epidemiology, the potential pathogenesis, and treatment implications of cognitive decline
in heart failure. Most evidence available relates to heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and the syndromes of
chronic cognitive decline or dementia. These conditions are only part of a complex heart failure-cognition
paradigm. Associations between cognition and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and between acute
delirium and heart failure also seem evident and where data are available we will discuss these syndromes. Many
questions remain unanswered regarding heart failure and cognition. Much of the observational evidence on the
association is confounded by study design, comorbidity and insensitive cognitive assessment tools. If a causal link
exists, there are several potential pathophysiological explanations. Plausible underlying mechanisms relating to
cerebral hypoperfusion or occult cerebrovascular disease have been described and it seems likely that these may
coexist and exert synergistic effects. Despite the prevalence of the two conditions, when cognitive impairment coexists
with heart failure there is no specific guidance on treatment. Institution of evidence-based heart failure therapies that
reduce mortality and hospitalisations seems intuitive and there is no signal that these interventions have an adverse
effect on cognition. However, cognitive impairment will present a further barrier to the often complex medication
self-management that is required in contemporary heart failure treatment.
Definitions and burden of heart failure
The term 'heart failure' (HF) is used to describe a condition wherein cardiac output is insufficient to meet metabolic requirements [1]. Clinically, it is defined as a
syndrome where patients have typical signs and symptoms resulting from an abnormality of cardiac structure
or function [2]. Contemporary terminology used to describe HF is based on left ventricular ejection fraction
(EF). This is considered important not only because of
prognosis (the lower the EF the poorer the survival) but
also because the major trials that inform the evidence
base have almost exclusively focussed on patients who
have HF with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF) [2]. A
* Correspondence: Terry.Quinn@glasgow.ac.uk
2
Department of Academic Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular and
Medical Sciences, New Lister Building, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow UK
G4 0SF, UK
Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
subgroup of patients also present with classical signs
and symptoms but in the context of preserved ejection
fraction (HF-PEF). These patients often have evidence of
diastolic dysfunction and this is considered by many as
the cause of HF symptoms.
It is estimated that 1 to 2% of the adult population in
developed countries have HF with the prevalence increasing to ≥10% among patients aged over 70 years;
more than half of these patients have HF-REF [3]. The
most common underlying aetiology in HF-REF is coronary
artery disease (CAD) resulting in myocardial damage.
Other common causes include hypertension, valvular
pathology, viral infection and alcohol excess [2]. HF-PEF
is more common in older, female patients. It is less frequently due to CAD and more often linked to hypertension and atrial fibrillation (AF), with the diagnosis being
© 2015 Cannon et al.; licensee BioMed Central. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
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unless otherwise stated.
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
one of exclusion of other non-cardiac causes of breathlessness [2].
HF admissions account for 5% of all medical admissions
(making it the commonest cause of unscheduled admission in older adults) and 2% of the total UK National
Health Service budget [4]. Societal and demographic
changes, including aging of the general population and
improved survival from CAD, will increase HF prevalence
(Figure 1) with a potential doubling in HF prevalence
within the next 40 years [2].
Heart failure and cognitive impairment – strength
of association
The co-existence of symptomatic 'heart failure' and 'brain
failure' has been recognised for decades, with a description
of 'cardiogenic dementia' first introduced in the 1970s.
While the co-occurrence of HF and cognitive problems
will be familiar to most clinicians, the topic has received
relatively little research interest compared with other aspects of cardiac disease. In collating and offering a synthesis of the available literature describing the association of
HF and cognition, we have found a disparate and inconsistent literature, characterised by small sample sizes, heterogeneity and multiple potential biases. We provide a
brief narrative overview of the field and have tabulated a
more detailed summary of findings from available crosssectional and prospective studies (Tables 1 to 3).
Studies describing cognitive impairment (CI) in HFREF have estimated prevalence at anywhere between 30
Page 2 of 18
and 80% of patients (Table 1). This heterogeneity results
from differences in study designs, case mix and cognitive
assessments employed. Accepting the limitations of the
evidence, even at the more conservative estimates of
prevalence, the literature would suggest that CI frequently co-exists with HF-REF (Table 1).
Cross-sectional studies of cognition in HF have value
in quantifying the burden of prevalent disease but give
no clues as to temporal relationship or causation. To describe the incidence and 'natural history' of cognition in
HF ideally requires prospective follow-up of a cohort
free from CI at inception. Few studies have utilised this
design and, where data are available, the validity is limited by small sample sizes, limited follow-up with substantial attrition and use of cognitive assessment tools
that may not be sensitive to modest but clinically meaningful change (Table 2). Inherent in this study design is
the assumption that CI follows or is a consequence of
the HF pathology [16]. A literature around 'reverse causation' in heart disease has been described. In brief, early
studies describing association of psychological or 'personality' factors and heart disease assumed that the
neuropsychological traits pre-dated and were probably
causative in the development of the cardiac condition.
Subsequent data have questioned this temporality and
suggest that subclinical (undiagnosed) vascular disease
may cause psychological distress phenotypes [44]. Such
arguments may also hold for HF and neuropsychological
disease, where both cognitive change and psychological
Prevalence of dementia by age and sex (%)
Average annual incidence/1000 people
Graph showing incidence of HF and prevalence of dementia in 2
community based populations
Female
Male
Female2
Male3
Figure 1 Incidence of heart failure within the Framingham cohort and prevalence of dementia by age and sex (pooled from five
centres of the Medical Research Council cognitive function and ageing study). Authors’ own figure based on data from [5]. HF,
heart failure.
Study
Sample
Population
Zuccalà
1997 [6]
57 HF pts
Consecutive
admissions to
hospital
Callegari
2002 [7]
64 HF pts, 321
healthy controls
Age <65 years
and consecutive
admissions to
hospital
Median age in
years (SD)
77
52 (8)
Study
methodology
Inclusion
criteria
Exclusion
criteria
CV measures/
criteria
Cognitive
assessment tool
(s) used
Results
Cross-sectional
Not specified
Co-morbid
psychiatric or
physical illness
and previous
diagnosis of CI
LVEF (mean EF
45%)NYHA II-III
MMSE,
MDBandRCPM
53% of HF pts showed
global CI with MMSE
less than 24
Cross-sectional
Not specified
Co-morbid
psychiatric or
neurological
illness. Previous
diagnosis of CI
and female sex
LVEF <50%
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
HF pts scored lower
than control group in
short-term verbal
memory, short-term
visuospatial memory
and visual spatial logical
ability
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
HF pts scored worse
than those without HF
in domains of: attention,
verbal fluency, verbal
learning
NYHA I-III
Cardiopulmonary
testing with
treadmill
Right heart
catheterisation
Trojano
2003 [8]
149 HF NYHA II
pts
Age >65 years
and consecutive
admissions to
hospital
HF NYHA II: 75
(7)
159 HF NYHA III/
IV
HF NYHA III/IV:
77 (7)
207 non-HF
controls
Non-HF controls:
74 (7)
Zuccalà
2005 [9]
1,511 HF pts,
11,790 control
patients
All geriatric or
general medical
hospital
admissions
Feola
2007 [10]
60 HF-REF
Consecutive
admissions to
hospital
79 (9)
66
Cross-sectional
83 HF pts
Co-morbid
psychiatric,
neurological or
physical illness.
Previous
diagnosis of CI
62
NYHA II-IV
No significant difference
between pts with
moderate or severe HF
Not specified
Not specified
HF diagnosis
based on
discharge
documentation
Hodkinson
abbreviated
mental test
35% of HF pts showed
global CI29% of non-HF
pts showed global CI
Cross-sectional
HF-REF: clinical
HF, NYHA II-IV,
LVEF ≤50%
Not specified
LVEF
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
23% of HF pts showed
global CI
MMSE
61% of HF pts showed
global CI
HF-PEF:
diagnosed based
on E/A ratio,
deceleration
time and LV
dilatation
Cross-sectional
Not specified
NYHA II-IV
BNP
Hearing/visual
impairment
LVEF <45%
NYHA I-IV
Page 3 of 18
Consecutive
admissions to
hospital
No measure of LV
function
Cross-sectional
12 HF-PEF
Debette
2007 [11]
Not specified
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
Table 1 Studies examining the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with heart failure
Dodson
2013 [12]
Schmidt
1991 [13]
Grubb
2000 [14]
282
decompensated
HF pts
Age >65 years
and nonconsecutive
admissions to
hospital
20 iDCM pts
Age <50 years
and ambulatory
outpatients only
20 healthy
controls
20 HF pts with
CADs
Ambulatory
outpatients only
20 CAD control
Riegel
2002 [15]
Vogels
2007 [16]
Hoth
2008 [17]
42 HF pts
62 HF pts
80 (8)
Prospective
English speaking
Co-morbid
psychiatric illness
HF diagnosis
based on
documentation in
medical records
MMSE
25% of HF pts showed
evidence of mild CI 22%
of HF pts showed
moderate to severe CI
iDCM: 38 (5)
Cross-sectional
Not specified
Co-morbid
psychiatric,
neurological or
physical illness
LVEF 14-45%
LGT-3 and ALID
Systolic HF pts
performed worse than
the control group in
domains of attention,
learning and memory
and reaction time
Co-morbid
psychiatric or
neurological
illness. Previous
hospital
admission within
6 months
HF: LVEF <40%,
NYHA III/IV
RBMT and WMS
No difference between
HF pts and control
group
MMSE and CIMS
29% of HF pts showed
evidence of global CI
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
HF pts scored lower
than the healthy control
group in all domains
Healthy controls:
41 (8)
HF: 68
Ambulatory
outpatients only
Age >50 years
and ambulatory
outpatients only
75 (12)
HF: 69 (9))
CAD controls: 69
(10)
42 healthy
controls
Healthy controls:
67 (9
31 CAD controls
Not specified
CAD controls: 67
53 CAD controls
31 HF pts
Cross-sectional
Age >55 years
and ambulatory
outpatients only
HF: 69 (9)
CAD controls: 69
(9)
Cross-sectional
Case control
English speaking
HF pts: diagnosis
of HF >6 months
and stable on
medication
>4 weeks
CAD controls:
IHD but no
clinical CHF and
EF >40%
Co-morbid
physical or
psychiatric illness
Co-morbid
physical,
neurological or
psychiatric
illness. Previous
diagnosis of CI
NYHA II-IV
CAD controls:
LVEF >55%, no
CHF
No measure of LV
function
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
Table 1 Studies examining the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with heart failure (Continued)
NYHA I-IV
LVEF <40%
NYHA II-IV
HF pts scored lower
than the IHD control
group in domains of
memory and mental
speed
IHD control group
scored lower than the
healthy control group in
language only
Cross-sectional
English speaking
Minimum of 8th
grade education
LVEF <40%
NYHA II-IV
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
Systolic HF pts scored
lower than the IHD
control group in
domains of executive
function and cognitive
flexibility
Page 4 of 18
CAD controls:
angina/previous
MI/PCI/PVD and
HF excluded on
basis of clinical
examination
Co-morbid
physical,
neurological or
psychiatric
illness. Previous
diagnosis of CI
Beer
2009 [18]
31 HF pts
24 healthy
controls
Ambulatory
outpatients only
HF: 54 (11)
Case control
Healthy controls:
56 (8)
Stanek
2009 [19]
40 HF pts, 35
CAD controls
Ambulatory
outpatients only
70 (8)
Sauvé
2009 [20]
50 HF pts50
healthy controls
Age >30 years in
HF pts and
>55 years in
controls.
Ambulatory
outpatients only
HF: 63 (14)
Healthy controls:
63 (14)
Case control
Pressler
2010 [21]
249 HF pts
Ambulatory
outpatients only
HF: 63 (15)
Cross-sectional
Bauer
2012 [22]
Not specified
Prospective
English speaking
DRS
No difference between
systolic HF pts and CAD
control patients in all
domains
LWHFQ
Co-morbid
psychiatric or
neurological
illness
LVEF ≤40%NYHA
II-IV
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
Systolic HF pts scored
lower than control
group in domain of
verbal memory
HF: LVEF ≤40%
and clinical HF
Co-morbid
psychiatric,
neurological or
physical illness.
Previous
diagnosis of CI
NYHA
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
HF group performed
worse than healthy and
general medical groups
in domains of memory,
executive function and
psychomotor speed
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
HF-REF and HF-PEF pts
performed worse than
age- and educatedadjusted healthy control
groups in executive
function, attention,
language, memory and
psychomotor speed
102 general
medical pts
Medical group:
63 (12)
Medical group:
major chronic
disorder other
than HF
Cross-sectional
Systolic HF pts scored
lower than control
group in all cognitive
domains
Diagnosis of HF
>6 months
Healthy controls:
absence of any
medical
condition or
controlled CV risk
factors
72 (12)
NYHA II
Block design, CVLT
and 'F,A,S test'
NYHA II-III
Healthy controls:
53 (17)
Age >21 years
and ambulatory
outpatients only
LVEF <40%
Co-morbid
psychiatric or
neurological
illness. Previous
diagnosis of CI
CAD controls:
history of MI,
CAD, cardiac
surgery,
hypertension
63 healthy
controls
51 HF-REF, 29
HF-PEF
Co-morbid
neurological
illness or
previous
diagnosis of CI
HF-REF: history of
HF-REF
>6 months,
stable on
medication
>4 weeks, LVEF
≤40%
LVEF
LVEF
NYHA
Page 5 of 18
HF-PEF: history of
HF-PEF
>6 months,
stable on
medication
>4 weeks, LVEF
>41%
Co-morbid
psychiatric,
neurological or
physical illness.
Previous
diagnosis of CI
CO <4 L/minute
on echo
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
Table 1 Studies examining the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with heart failure (Continued)
Festa
2011 [23]
169 HF-REF, 38
HF-PEF
Age >17 years
and ambulatory
outpatients only
69
Retrospective
On medical
treatment for HF
Co-morbid
neurological
illness
LVEF
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
Low EF was associated
with poor memory in
pts over 63 years old
Haemodynamically
stable
Not
receiving
mechanical
circulatory
support
Pts <63 years old
had preserved
memory function
regardless of EF.
Steinberg 2011
[24]
55 HF pts
Ambulatory
outpatients only
55 (8)
Jefferson
2011 [25]
1,114 pts from
Framingham
Heart Study
Age >40 and
<89 years and
ambulatory
outpatients only
67 (9)
Cross-sectional
Miller
2012 [26]
140 HF pts
Age >50 and
<85 years and
ambulatory
outpatients only
69 (9)
Cross-sectional
Stable clinical
status
Co-morbid
neurological or
physical illness.
Previous diagnosis
of CI
LVEF ≤45%
Co-morbid
neurological
illness or
previous
diagnosis of CI
LVEF
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
U-shaped association
between LVEF and
cognitive performance
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
62% of HF pts showed
evidence of global CI
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
HF pts scored lower
than the healthy control
group in domains of
immediate/long-term
memory and
psychomotor speed
44% of HF pts
showed evidence
of global CI
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric battery
NYHA IIII
6 minute
walk test
Cross-sectional
Not specified
English speaking
Co-morbid
psychiatric or
neurological
illness
Cardiac MRI
No measure of LV
function
No NYHA
classification
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
Table 1 Studies examining the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with heart failure (Continued)
2 minute step test
Almeida
2012 [27]
35 HF pts
Age >45 years
and ambulatory
outpatients only
HF: 69 (9)
Cross-sectional
HF: EF <40%,
clinical HF
≥6 months,
English speaking,
NYHA I-III
CAD controls: 67
(10)
CAD controls:
previous MI,
English speaking,
EF ≥60%, no
clinical HF
64 healthy
controls
Healthy controls:
69 (11)
Healthy controls:
English speaking,
no previous MI/
angina, EF ≥60%
LVEF
NYHA
No difference between
the HF group and IHD
control group in
cognition
Page 6 of 18
56 CAD controls
Co-morbid
psychiatric,
neurological or
physical illness.
Previous
diagnosis of CI
Hawkins
2012 [28]
251 HF pts
Ambulatory
outpatients only
66 (10)
Cross-sectional
English speaking
Co-morbid
psychiatric
illness. Previous
diagnosis of CI
LVEF ≤40%
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
58% of HF pts had CI
with poor scores in the
domains of verbal
learning and verbal
memory
BratzkeBauer
2013 [29]
47 HF-REF
Age >50 years
and ambulatory
outpatients only
HF-REF: 75 (9)
Cross-sectional
History of HF
>6 months
Co-morbid
psychiatric,
neurological or
physical illness.
Previous
diagnosis of CI
LVEF
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
23% of the HF-REF
cohort showed evidence
of CI
33 HF-PEF
HF-PEF: 68 (15)
Stable on
medication
≥4 weeks
NYHA
3% of the HF-PEF cohort
showed evidence of CI
HF-PEF based on
AHA criteria
Huijts
2013 [30]
491 HF-REF
Age >60 years
and ambulatory
outpatients only
77 (8)
120 HF-PEF
Kindermann
2012 [31]
Prospective
HF-REF:
hospitalization
within past year
Co-morbid
physical illness
HF-PEF: NTproBNP
≥400 pg/ml if pt
<75 years or
≥800 pg/ml if pt
≥75 years
20
decompensated
HF pts
Decompensated
HF: nonconsecutive
admissions to
hospital
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
Decompensated
HF group scored
lower than
stable HF group
in domains of
memory,
executive
control and
processing
speed
Decompensated
HF: 60 (16)
HF-REF: LVEF
<45%, NYHA II-IV,
NT-proBNP
>400 pg/ml
AMT
HF-PEF: LVEF
≥45%
Prospective
Decompensated
HF: caused by
ischaemic or DCM,
symptomatic HF
for ≥6 months,
clinical signs of
decompensation,
for example,
raised JVP
8% of HF-REF group
showed evidence of
severe CI (AMT ≤7)
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
Table 1 Studies examining the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with heart failure (Continued)
13% of HF-PEF group
showed evidence of
severe CI (AMT ≤7)
Co-morbid
psychiatric,
neurological or
physical illness.
Previous diagnosis
of CI
LVEF <45%
Page 7 of 18
20 stable HF pts
Stable
HF
group
scored
lower
than the
healthy
control
group in
domains
of
intelligence and
episodic
memory
20 healthy
controls
Stable HF:
outpatients
Stable HF: 61
(17)
Stable HF pts: CHF
of ischaemic or
DCM, NYHA III-IV,
no clinical signs/
history of
decompensation
for ≥3 months
NYHA III/IV
Healthy controls:
62 (15)
AHA, American Heart Association; ALID, adjective list of Janke and Debus; AMT, Abbreviated Mental Test; BNP, brain natriuretic peptide; CAD, coronary artery disease; CHF, congestive heart failure; CI, cognitive
impairment; CIMS, complex ideational material subset; CO, cardiac output; CV, cardiovascular; CVLT, California Verbal Learning Test; DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy; DRS, Disability Rating Scale; E/A ratio, ratio of mitral
peak velocity of early filling (E) to mitral peak velocity of late filling (A); EF, ejection fraction; HF, heart failure; HF-REF, heart failure-reduced ejection fraction; HF-PEF, heart failure-preserved ejection fraction; iDCM,
idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy; IHD, ischaemic heart disease; JVP, jugular venous pressure; LGT-3, Lern und Gedachtnistest; LV, left ventricular; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; LWHFQ, Living With Heart
Failure Questionnaire; MDB, mental deterioration battery; MI, myocardial infarction; MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; NT-pro BNP, N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic
peptide; NYHA, New York Heart Association; pts, patients; PCI, percutaneous coronary intervention; PVD, peripheral vascular disease; RBMT, Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test; RCPM, raven coloured progressive
matrices; SD, standard deviation; WMS, Weschler Memory Scale.
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
Table 1 Studies examining the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with heart failure (Continued)
Page 8 of 18
Study
Sample
Population
Median age
in years (SD)
Study
Inclusion
methodology criteria
Exclusion
criteria
CV measures
Cognitive
assessment
tool used
Follow-up Results
period
Karlsson
2005
[32]
146 CHF pts
Age >60 years
and outpatients
76 (8)
Prospective
Co-morbid
psychiatric,
neurological or
physical illness.
Previous
diagnosis of CI
LVEF
MMSE
6 months
EF <45%
NYHA II-IV
Tanne
2005
[33]
Stanek
2009
[19]
20 CHF underwent
exercise programme5
CHF pts as control pts
40 HF pts, 35 CAD
controls
Outpatients
63 (13)
Prospective
EF ≤35%
NYHA III
Age >53 and
<84 years.
Outpatients
70 (8)
Prospective
Co-morbid
psychiatric,
neurological or
physical illness
NYHA
LVEF
NYHA
History of HF for
≥6 months
Mod-Bruce ETT
Stable on
medication
≥6 weeks
6 minute walk
test
HF: English
speaking
NYHA II or III
CO <4 L/minute
Co-morbid
psychiatric or
neurological
illness. Previous
diagnosis of CI
NYHA
And 4% had MMSE
scores <24 at 6 months
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
18 weeks
Hjelm
2011
[35]
77 HF pts
Age >45 years
and outpatients
HF: 68 (10)
73 CAD controls
CAD controls:
68 (10)
81 healthy controls
Healthy
controls: 69
(11)
95 HF pts607 non-CHF
controls
Age >80 years
and outpatients
84 (3)
Prospective
DRS
12 months HF patients improved
at 12 months,
particularly in attention
CO
Prospective
HF: EF <40%,
Co-morbid
English speaking psychiatric or
neurological
CAD controls:
illness. Previous
previous MI and
diagnosis of CI
EF >60%, English
speaking
NYHA
Healthy controls:
no history of
CAD, English
speaking
6 minute walk
test
Not specified
Not specified
LVEF
Cardiac controls stable
at 12 months
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
2 years
CHF group showed
cognitive decline
compared with CAD
and healthy controls
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
10 years
HF patients showed
significant decline in
episodic memory and
spatial performance
compared with controls
Page 9 of 18
HF diagnosis
based on
documentation
in medical
records
Improvement in
executive function
post-exercise
programme
No change in cognition
in control group with
time
CAD controls:
CO ≥4 L/minute,
history of MI/
CAD
Almeida
2013
[34]
12% of HF patients had
MMSE scores <24 at
baseline
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
Table 2 Studies examining cognitive changes over time in the heart failure population
Riegel
2012
[36]
279 consecutive HF pts
(HF-REF and HF-PEF)
Age <80 years
and outpatients
62 (12)
Prospective
Stage C HF and Co-morbid
English speaking psychiatric or
physical illness.
Previous
diagnosis of CI
NYHA I-IV
Multidomain
neuropsychiatric
battery
LVEF
6 months
No significant change
in cognition over
6 months (HF-REF and
HF-PEF)
Minimal improvement
in DSST in both groups
(likely due to learned
effect)
Higher LVEF associated
with lower DSST score
Huijts
2013
[30]
491 HF-REF120 HF-PEF
Age >60 years
and outpatients
77 (8)
Prospective
HF-REF:
hospitalization
within past year
HF-PEF: NTproBNP
≥400 pg/ml if pt
<75 years or
≥800 pg/ml if pt
≥75 years
Co-morbid
physical illness
HF-REF: LVEF
<45%, NYHA IIIV, NT-proBNP
>400 pg/ml
120 HF-PEF:
LVEF ≥45%
AMT
18 months HF-REF: 23% of HF pts
showed decline of ≥1
point in AMT over
18 months
HF-PEF: 24% of HF pts
showed improvement
of ≥1 point in AMT
over 18 months
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
Table 2 Studies examining cognitive changes over time in the heart failure population (Continued)
AMT, Abbreviated Mental Test; CAD, coronary artery disease; CHF, congestive heart failure; CI, cognitive impairment; CO, cardiac output; CV, cardiovascular; DRS, Disability Rating Scale; DSST, digit symbol substitution
test; EF, ejection fraction; ETT, exercise tolerance test; HF, heart failure; HF-REF, heart failure-reduced ejection fraction; HF-PEF, heart failure-preserved ejection fraction; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; MI,
myocardial infarction; MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; NT-pro BNP, N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide; NYHA, New York Heart Association; pts, patients; SD, standard deviation.
Page 10 of 18
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
distress may be the cause or effect of HF. Investigating
reverse causation is challenging but possible; to avoid
biases from early mortality, large datasets with sufficient
prospective follow-up are required [44].
Association does not imply causation and we must
be mindful that both HF and CI are diseases of older
age with many shared pathologies. Recognising this,
many HF studies have defined an age-related inclusion
criterion. With all the caveats that come with the heterogeneity of the available data, it would seem that association of CI and HF is present at all ages (Table 1).
Studies that have attempted more sophisticated adjustment for confounders illustrate the inherent difficulty
in teasing out what is contributory to cognitive decline
and what is association or epi-phenomenon. In general,
HF patients tend to have poorer scores on cognitive
tests when compared with a 'healthy' (no cardiac disease) control group [34], but this comparator is still
potentially confounded by cardiovascular comorbidity in
the HF group. Inclusion of a cohort with common vascular risk factors but no HF may allow determination of
whether HF per se is associated with CI. Where attempts have been made to utilise this design, studies
have been modest in size and results contradictory
[16,19]. Some authors have described little difference
between groups and others have described increased rates
of CI in HF-REF groups, particularly in 'executive function'
domains.
A direct 'dose response' relationship between severity of HF and severity of CI would strengthen arguments for a causal link. HF-REF can be quantified in
terms of EF or symptom burden. For both measures
there is an independent association with increasing
prevalence of CI [6,8,13,16,17,20] and the poorest scores
on cognitive testing are most often seen in those with
the severest disease [23]. Interestingly, an association
with CI is also seen in those with echocardiographic
evidence of reduced EF but without symptoms of HF
(that is, patients with asymptomatic left ventricular
systolic dysfunction) [7].
Few studies have described cognitive function in patients with HF-PEF [10,22,23,29,30,45], but the pattern
seems to be that CI is a substantial problem in all HF
regardless of EF. Whether the prevalence or phenotype
of cognitive change differs between HF-PEF and HF-REF
is not clear as there have been few comparative studies.
In keeping with much of the HF and cognition literature,
where data are available, there is substantial potential for
bias and results are contradictory. Some authors have
described higher proportion of cognitive problems in
HF-REF [29], while secondary analyses of clinical trials
have suggested either an equal proportion of CI across
the groups or an excess of CI in those with HF-PEF
[30,45].
Page 11 of 18
Heart failure and delirium
Two patterns of cognitive problems in HF are recognised:
a chronic, progressive decline in cognitive ability and a
more acute change in cognition often in association with
decompensated disease. The acute delirium and HF relationship has not been well described. Delirium is a common sequela of decompensated HF; one study estimated
that 17% of unscheduled HF hospitalisations had features
of delirium [46]. Where delirium accompanies HF, outcomes are generally poor with increased mortality and
length of stay [46]. However, delirium is a frequent complication of most medical emergencies in older adults and
the delirium of decompensated HF may be no more or
less frequent than the delirium that accompanies other
medical conditions such as stroke or pneumonia.
Impact of cognitive impairment in heart failure
There is a literature describing the relationship between
CI and 'classical cardiovascular trial' outcomes (Table 3).
In general the presence of CI in HF is associated with
poorer clinical outcomes, including longer hospital admissions, increased inpatient mortality and increased 1-year
mortality [37]. However, as CI seems to be associated with
more severe HF and with other medical comorbidities, we
should not assume that poorer outcomes are directly attributable to the cognitive state. Several other important
metrics have been described in HF cohorts and all seem to
be worsened by the presence of CI, including functional
ability, medication adherence and institutionalisation
(Table 3). Cognitive decline tends not to occur in isolation
and, as with other diseases of older age, the presence of
impaired cognition in HF is often associated with concomitant functional decline and poor levels of self-care
[32,37,38,40-43,47].
Potential pathophysiological explanations of
cognitive impairment in heart failure
Historically, research describing the pathology of the dementias has been polarised, with vocal proponents for
'amyloid' and 'cerebral small vessel disease' aetiologies.
Increasingly these processes are recognised as co-existing
with complex biological interactions [48]. The same is
likely true of the pathogenesis of CI in HF. Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and occult cardioembolic disease are
exemplar mechanistic explanations that have dominated
the literature on cognition in HF. Both processes have face
validity, have strong supporting scientific and observational data and yet have traditionally been studied in
isolation [49]. For ease of understanding, we will keep
this dichotomy and discuss the potential pathological
mechanisms separately; however, it seems likely that
both processes frequently coexist in patients with HF
and may exert pathological synergy.
Study
Sample
Population
Zuccalà
2003 [37]
1511 HF
pts 11,790
controls
All geriatric or general 79 (9)
medical admissions
Karlsson
2005 [32]
146 CHF
pts
Age >60 years and
outpatients
Riegel
2007 [38]
29 CHF pts Outpatients
Median age
in years (SD)
76 (8)
Study
Inclusion criteria
methodology
Exclusion criteria
Measures
Prospective
Not specified
Hodkinson abbreviated mental Mean length of hospital
test
stay: pts with CI = 15 ±
10 days; pts without CI = 15
± 9 days
Prospective
Not specified
LVEF <45%
NYHA II–IV
64 (10)
Crosssectional
LVSD on echo
Clinical HF
50 CHF pts Age >45 years and
consecutive hospital
admissions
73 (11)
Cameron
2010 [40]
93 CHF pts Age >45 years and
consecutive hospital
admissions
73 (11)
Crosssectional
Clinical CHF
Crosssectional
Clinical CHF
LVSD on echo
93 CHF pts Consecutive
outpatients
Alosco
2013 [42]
110 CHF
pts
77 (6)
Age >50 years and
70 (9)
<85 years. Outpatients
100 CHF
pts
Age >55 years and
outpatients
72 (10)
1-year mortality: pts with CI,
27%; pts without CI, 15%
CI was worse in the poor
self-care group compared to
the good and expert selfcare groups but did not
reach level of significance
Self-care of HF index
DSST
Probed memory recall
Co-morbid neurological illness. Self-care of HF index
Previous diagnosis of CI
Cardiac depression scale
MoCA
Not specified
Not specified
Prospective
NYHA II-IV
Co-morbid psychiatric,
Lawton-Brody instrumental
neurological or physical illness. activities of daily living
Previous diagnosis of CI
Modified MMSE (3MS)
Crosssectional
CI and self-care
management were
significantly associated (t =
2.7; P < 0.01)
The European heart failure self- MMSE was negatively
care behaviour scale
correlated with self-care
behavioural scores (r = 0.58,
MMSE
P < 0.001)
MoCA
LVEF ≤45%
Self-care in HF index
Change in
symptoms on
previous 3 months
Geriatric Depression Scale
Poorer performance on 3MS
was associated with worse
total activities of daily living
performance
MoCA score of <26 was
significantly associated with
worse self-care
management
Page 12 of 18
Confirmed HF using Co-morbid psychiatric illness
the Boston criteria
or previous diagnosis of CI
English speaking
CI was not a predictor of
self-care
MMSE
Co-morbid neurological illness. Self-care HF index
Previous diagnosis of CI
MMSE
Crosssectional
English speaking
Harkness
2013 [43]
1 year mortality
Co-morbid psychiatric or
physical illness. Previous
diagnosis of CI
English speaking
Pulignano
2010 [41]
Inpatient mortality: pts with
CI, 18%; pts without CI, 3%
Self-care scores were
significantly higher in those
with MMSE >24 compared
to those ≤24
English speaking
LVSD on echo
Length of hospital stay
Co-morbid psychiatric,
HF self-care
neurological or physical illness.
questionnaire
Previous diagnosis of CI
MMSE
English speaking
Cameron
2009 [39]
Results
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
Table 3 Studies examining the relationship between cognitive impairment and outcomes in patients with heart failure
Alosco
2013 [42]
175 CHF
pts
Age >50 years and
68 (10)
<85 years. Outpatients
Crosssectional
NYHA II-IV
English speaking
Co-morbid psychiatric,
Lawton-Brody instrumental
neurological or physical illness. activities of daily living
Previous diagnosis of CI
Executive function assessed by
FAB and LNS
Poorer executive function
was independently
associated with poorer total
activities of daily living
performance
CHF, congestive heart failure; CI, cognitive impairment; DSST, digit symbol substitution test; FAB, frontal assessment battery; HF, heart failure; LNS, letter number sequencing; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction;
LVSD, left ventricular systolic dysfunction; MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment Tool; NYHA, New York Heart Association; SD, standard deviation.
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
Table 3 Studies examining the relationship between cognitive impairment and outcomes in patients with heart failure (Continued)
Page 13 of 18
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
Although most of the postulated mechanisms we will
discuss have been described in the context of HF-REF,
issues of cerebral hypoperfusion, thrombotic disease and
concomitant cardiovascular disease are also seen in HFPEF [2] and it seems likely they will factor in the pathogenesis of any cognitive decline seen in this syndrome.
Page 14 of 18
between cognitive decline (particularly in the context of
'small vessel disease'), mood disorder and systemic vascular disease that is poorly understood but likely to be
relevant to HF. Mood disorders are particularly important to detect as they can respond to intervention, making mood disorder in HF a potentially treatable form of
cognitive decline.
Confounding from other diseases
Co-existence of dementia and CI has been reported in a
variety of cardiovascular disorders, including CAD, myocardial infarction and valvular heart disease. Midlife exposure to the common vascular risk factors of diabetes,
hypertension and smoking is associated with later life
cognitive decline [16]. This background is relevant to the
study of patients with HF as many have a history of one or
more of these co-morbidities. As discussed previously,
dissecting the contribution of HF from concomitant
vascular risk and disease is challenging but is essential
for future studies that wish to describe the cognitive
component of HF.
AF is a potential confounding condition worthy of separate discussion. The association of AF with cognitive
decline is compelling [50]. Much of the CI associated
with AF will be driven by cardioembolic stroke. However, cognitive decline is also seen in patients with AF
and no history of clinical stroke, possibly representing
occult embolic disease [50]. AF is common in HF and
prevalence increases with severity of disease. Up to 50%
of patients with 'end-stage' HF have AF [51]. Increasing
use of ambulatory monitors is discovering substantial
undetected paroxysmal AF and so these figures may be
underestimates. While AF will be a factor in the pathogenesis of some HF-related CI, it is probably not the sole
explanation. Where studies have controlled for the presence of AF in their HF patient population, there remains
substantial prevalent CI [10,11,13,16,31].
Any discussion of cognition in cardiac disease has to
consider the effect of invasive and instrumental procedures. The interventional toolkit available to cardiologists is increasingly sophisticated, with new indications
emerging. Acute and chronic neurological deficits associated with cardiac surgery are well described [52] while
interventions such as cardiac catheterisation and transcatheter aortic valve replacement have also been associated with post-procedure CI [53]. The mechanism of
neurological insult associated with these procedures is
likely a combination of reduced cerebral perfusion and
embolic disease.
As well as 'physical' conditions, mood disorder may
also represent an important confounder of association
between HF and CI. Clinically important depression and
anxiety are common in patients with HF. Depression is
found in nearly 30% of HF patients and is associated
with poor outcomes [54]. There is a complex interplay
Shared pathophysiology (systemic inflammation and
amyloid)
Several recent studies have demonstrated the formation
of tangle and plaque-like structures and fibrillar deposits
(that is, the 'hallmark' lesions of Alzheimer’s disease
(AD) dementia) within the myocardium of patients with
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy [55]. Mis-folded proteins in the form of
intermediate oligomers have also been described in cardiac tissue, with a distribution similar to that observed
in the brain of patients with AD [55], raising the possibility of a common myocardial and cerebral pathology in
a subset of patients with HF.
The systemic inflammatory state recognised in patients
with HF may also contribute to CI [56]. It is postulated
that inflammatory mediators influence cognition via diverse cytokine-mediated interactions between neurons
and glial cells. In vitro and animal models support the
inflammation and cognitive decline hypothesis and studies in humans with HF are emerging, although data are
far from definitive at present [56].
Acute and chronic hypoperfusion
A mechanistic link between hypotension and CI, mediated via chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and loss of the
normal autoregulation of cerebral perfusion pressures,
has been postulated. Many diseases, including diabetes
mellitus and depression, are associated with impaired reactivity of cerebrovascular perfusion autoregulatory systems and this state seems to confer a higher risk of
cognitive decline [57]. HF patients often have systemic
hypotension and in the context of disordered autoregulation this could lead to further insults to cerebral perfusion. Cerebral perfusion abnormalities have been
demonstrated in HF patients, with reactivity more impaired in patients with greater severity of HF.
These hypoperfusion cognitive problems are not necessarily 'vascular' dementia. In animal models, reduced
cerebral blood flow triggers a neurotoxic cascade that
culminates in accumulation of amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins, the classical precursors of AD.
If chronic hypoperfusion is causative, then improving
cerebral blood flow should reduce cognitive decline.
There is some evidence to support this view in patients
with severe HF who have undergone cardiac transplant,
pacemaker or cardiac resynchronisation therapy, and in
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
whom measures of cognition have stabilised or improved
post-procedure [58].
Thrombosis and cerebral infarction
The potential importance of AF-related cardioembolism
has been discussed. Cardioembolism is also seen in HF
with sinus rhythm where ventricular function is the
most important determinant of thrombus formation and
potential embolic cerebral infarction [59] (Figure 2).
Downregulation of thrombomodulin, structural changes
in the cardiac chambers and potential blood stasis in the
context of reduced myocardial contractility are associated with thrombus formation that may in turn lead to
arterial events of clinical stroke or occult cerebral infarction [59]. This systemic prothrombotic phenotype increases risk of all thrombo-embolic diseases and HF is
also associated with venous thromboembolism [60,61].
This is not surprising, as abnormalities in all three constituents of Virchow’s Triad (abnormal blood constituents, abnormal vessel wall and abnormal blood flow) are
present in HF. Neurohormonal activation seen in HF is
associated with increased production of thrombogenic
factors such as von Willebrand factor, thromboxane A2
and endothelin. The end result is a hypercoagulable state
with increased serum levels of circulating fibrinogen, fibrinopeptide A and D-dimer (amongst others) resulting
in platelet and thrombin activation and ultimately leading to plasma hyperviscosity and thrombosis [1]. A relationship between all these circulating markers of
thrombosis and haemostasis and cognitive decline, particularly 'vascular dementia', has been described [62]. It
Figure 2 Magnetic resonance imaging of brain (diffusion
weighted imaging sequences) in a patient with severe left
ventricular systolic dysfunction and acute cognitive change.
The initial images were felt to represent a multi-infarct state,
presumed cardioembolic and 'watershed' (hypoperfusion) infarction.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the patient had 'shared'
cardiac and cerebral pathology caused by a systemic and cerebral
vasculitic process.
Page 15 of 18
would seem intuitive that anticoagulation may prevent
sequelae of thrombosis; however, studies of formal anticoagulation in HF with sinus rhythm have been equivocal.
To date, no large study of anticoagulation in HF describing cognitive outcomes has been published.
Cognitive screening in heart failure services
Given the prevalence and potential impact of CI in HF, a
case could be made for routine cognitive screening of
HF patients. This is a controversial area with strongly
held views on both sides. Recent observational data
suggest that informal assessment of cognition by a
cardiologist is insufficiently sensitive, with around
three in four HF patients with important cognitive
problems not recognised as such in routine consultations [63]. To date, routine screening for CI has not
been incorporated into HF clinical guidelines; this
may be due in part to the lack of a standardised
screening technique that is feasible and acceptable for
use in the cardiology outpatient setting. A recent systematic review of cognitive screening questionnaires
utilised in HF studies concluded that the accuracy of
traditional cognitive assessment measures is questionable in HF populations and appropriate thresholds/
normative values need to be established [64]. In this
regard we welcome ongoing work by the Cochrane
Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group to offer
synthesis of test accuracy of cognitive assessments in
various healthcare contexts [65].
Treatment implications of cognitive impairment
in heart failure
There is an impressive evidence base to support
pharmacological interventions in HF-REF. Historically
HF trials have described clinical outcomes such as death,
vascular events and hospitalisation with decompensated
HF. There has been little focus on cognition or dementia
as trial outcome or as a case mix adjuster. In fact for
many of the trials that inform the HF evidence base, dementia or CI will have been an exclusion criterion.
Where trialists have attempted to describe cognitive effects of HF treatment, results have been neutral [30].
Central to the treatment of HF is relatively complex
multi-drug pharmacological treatment with attendant
need for careful biochemical surveillance and self- monitoring. To achieve optimal outcomes requires strict adherence to prescribed evidence-based therapy [2]. Poor
adherence is linked to an elevated risk of hospitalisation
and death, whereas appropriate self-management may
reduce these risks [2]. It seems intuitive that ensuring
adherence and self-management would be especially
challenging in the context of CI.
Interventions with angiotensin converting enzyme
inhibitors (ACE-is), which have effects on the renin-
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), have been a
mainstay of HF-REF therapy for decades. ACE is also
important in neurotransmitter modulation and there
are theoretical reasons to believe that ACE-is may
have an effect on cognitive decline. Cognitive substudies of the Cardiovascular Health Study and the
Italian Longitudinal Study on Ageing [66,67] both reported that subjects treated with ACE-is had equivalent rates of incident dementia compared with those
treated with other antihypertensives. However, there
were intriguing within-class differences in cognitive
outcomes - for example, between centrally and noncentrally active agents and between differing drug potencies [67]. The other pillars of HF-REF therapy,
beta-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists,
may also influence cognition. Although no studies specific
to HF are available, there is hypertension literature suggesting theoretical cognitive effects of beta-blockade but
inconclusive evidence that this is clinically important [68].
Cognitive effects of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists
have been demonstrated in animal models but human
data are limited [69].
Novel approaches to pharmacological intervention in
HF are being developed, with the natriuretic peptide system a key therapeutic target. These peptides possess differing degrees of haemodynamic, neurohormonal, renal
and cardiac effects which may be favourable in the HF
setting and may augment the effects of RAAS blockade.
Preliminary studies using inhibitors of neprilysin (also
known as neutral endopeptidase), an enzyme involved
in the breakdown of endogenous natriuretic peptides,
have yielded encouraging results [70]. Based on this
experience a phase III trial comparing the angiotensin
receptor neprilysin inhibitor molecule LCZ696 to the
ACE-i enalapril was undertaken in chronic HF-REF
(PARADIGM-HF). This trial was recently stopped for
benefit of LCZ696 over enalapril [71]. However, cardiac optimism must be tempered by caution regarding
potential non-cardiac, cognitive adverse effects. Mutations in the neprilysin gene have been associated with
familial forms of AD and neprilysin-deficient mice
show an AD phenotype [72].
In the light of non-definitive data, how should we
treat a patient with HF and CI? Cognitive enhancing
medication such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors have
recognised effects on the cardiac conduction system,
occasionally causing bradycardia, sick sinus syndrome
or other arrhythmias (including torsades de pointes)
resulting from QT prolongation through excessive
cholinergic stimulation. One recent study showed
donepezil to be safe in patients without symptomatic
heart disease and actually reduced levels of plasma
brain natriuretic peptide in patients with subclinical
HF [73].
Page 16 of 18
Although there are no data to suggest cognitive benefits of standard HF therapy, there are equally no signals
of harm. Given the beneficial effects of pharmacological
therapy on mortality and hospitalisation, it would seem
sensible to consider these evidence-based medical interventions for all HF patients, tailoring the intervention to
suit the patient. A multidisciplinary approach with frequent review and medication titration seems to work
well. Prescribers need to be alert to the potential effects
of CI on concordance with sometimes complex drug
regimens. Early use of compliance aids and involvement
of family or carers may help in this regard. The goal of
management of HF is to provide 'seamless care' in both
the community and hospital to ensure the treatment of
every patient is optimal. Despite the plethora of publications and guidelines, the data consistently show a lower
uptake of evidence-based investigations and therapies in
older patients with consequent higher rates of HF hospitalizations and mortality [43]. The current shift away
from concentration on individual drug therapies to a
focus on systems of care that allow effective treatment
delivery is welcomed.
Conclusion
Recurrent themes in our synthesis of the literature regarding CI and HF are a lack of primary data, methodological limitations in available research, and conflicting
results. To progress our understanding we recommend
increasing use of cognitive assessment using standardised screening tools in all future HF studies. Although
we found numerous studies assessing prevalence, there
is a dearth of studies investigating the incidence of CI in
HF. Once the incidence and prevalence of CI in HF are
better defined we need to evaluate the consequences of
CI in HF. Identifying underlying mechanisms for CI in
HF may present targets for intervention, the 'holy grail'
of cognitive research. A number of processes have been
postulated, and we now need confirmatory studies using
new developments in neuroimaging and biomarkers in
representative populations of HF patients. All of this will
require a multidisciplinary approach between HF and
dementia research teams. Such collaborative activity is
urgently needed given the projected increases in both CI
and HF.
Note: This article is part of a series on The impact of acute
and chronic medical disorders on accelerated cognitive
decline’, edited by Carol Brayne and Daniel Davis. Other
articles in this series can be found at http://alres.com/
series/medicaldisorders.
Cannon et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2015) 7:22
Abbreviations
ACE-(i): Angiotensin converting enzyme-(inhibitor); AD: Alzheimer’s disease;
AF: Atrial fibrillation; CAD: Coronary artery disease; CI: Cognitive impairment;
EF: Ejection fraction; HF: Heart failure; HF-PEF: Heart failure-preserved ejection
fraction; HF-REF: Heart failure-reduced ejection fraction; RAAS: Reninangiotensin-aldosterone system..
Competing interests
JC has no competing interests. JJVM has no competing interests. TJQ has
received modest honoraria, research funding and travel support from:
Astra-Zeneca; Bayer; Boehringer Eingelheim; Bristol Meyers Squibb; Merck;
Pfizer. He holds grants relating to cognitive assessment from British Geriatric
Society; Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland; Chief Scientists Office Scotland;
The Stroke Association.
Author details
British Heart Foundation Glasgow, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical
Sciences, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.
2
Department of Academic Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular and
Medical Sciences, New Lister Building, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow UK
G4 0SF, UK.
1
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