Cognitive problems in patients in a cardiac rehabilitation program after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Abstract Objective Estimate prevalence of cognitive problems due to hypoxic brain injury in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors referred for cardiac rehabilitation and association with quality of life as well as autonomy and participation. Design Prospective cohort study. Method/design Consecutive OHCA patients. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) and Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) were administered 4 weeks after the OHCA. Cognitive problems were defined if MMSE 32 or IQCODE >3.6. The Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire (IPAQ) (participation/autonomy), the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) (quality of life) and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) (anxiety/depression) were administered. Correlations between cognitive problems and participation/autonomy and quality of life were calculated. Results 63 of 77 patients were male (82%), median age 59 years (range 15–84). MMSE median 29 (interquartile range 28–30), CFQ mean 20.9 (SD 9.4) and IQCODE mean 3.1 (SD 0.2). Eighteen patients (23%) scored positive for cognitive problems. Significant correlations were found between MMSE and IPAQ: autonomy inside ( r  = −0.38), family role ( r  = −0.26), autonomy outside ( r  = −0.32), social relations ( r  = −0.38) and social functioning ( r  = 0.32). MMSE was related to SF-36: social functioning ( r  = 0.32). The CFQ was related to IPAQ: autonomy outdoors ( r  = 0.29) and SF-36: bodily pain ( r  = −0.37), vitality ( r  = −0.25), mental health ( r  = −0.35) and role emotional ( r  = −0.40). The IQCODE was related to IPAQ: autonomy indoors ( r  = 0.26) and to SF-36: vitality ( r  = −0.33) and social functioning ( r  = −0.41). Conclusion Twenty-three percent of the patients referred for cardiac rehabilitation showed cognitive problems. Associations were found between cognitive problems and several aspects of participation/autonomy and perceived quality of life.