Executive dysfunction is independently associated with reduced functional independence in heart failure. Issue 5 (8th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alosco, Michael L; Spitznagel, Mary Beth; Raz, Naftali; Cohen, Ronald; Sweet, Lawrence H; Colbert, Lisa H; Josephson, Richard; van, Manfred; Hughes, Joel; Rosneck, Jim; Gunstad, John
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical nursing. Volume 23:Issue 5/6(2014)
• Page Start: 829
• Page End: 836
• Publication Date: 2013-05-08
• Subjects: Nursing -- Periodicals; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; 610.7305
• DOI: 10.1111/jocn.12214
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-1067

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jocn12214-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jocn12214-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aims and objectives</title> <p>To examine the independent association between executive function with instrumental activities of daily living and health behaviours in older adults with heart failure.</p> </sec> <sec id="jocn12214-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Executive function is an important contributor to functional independence as it consists of cognitive processes needed for decision‐making, planning, organising and behavioural monitoring. Impairment in this domain is common in heart failure patients and associated with reduced performance of instrumental activities of daily living in many medical and neurological populations. However, the contribution of executive functions to functional independence and healthy lifestyle choices in heart failure patients has not been fully examined.</p> </sec> <sec id="jocn12214-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>Cross‐sectional analyses.</p> </sec> <sec id="jocn12214-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>One hundred and seventy‐five heart failure patients completed a neuropsychological battery and echocardiogram. Participants also completed the Lawton–Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale and reported current cigarette use.</p> </sec> <sec id="jocn12214-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Hierarchical regressions revealed that reduced executive function was independently associated with worse instrumental activity of daily living performance with a specific association for decreased ability to manage medications. Partial correlations showed that executive dysfunction was associated with current cigarette use.</p> </sec> <sec id="jocn12214-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Our findings suggest that executive dysfunction is associated with poorer functional independence and contributes to unhealthy behaviours in heart failure. Future studies should examine whether heart failure patients benefit from formal organisation schema (i.e. pill organisers) to maintain independence.</p> </sec> <sec id="jocn12214-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Relevance to clinical practice</title> <p>Screening of executive function in heart failure patients may provide key insight into their ability to perform daily tasks, including the management of treatment recommendations.</p> </sec> </abstract>