Abstract & Overview
INTRODUCTION: The burden of cognitive impairment in heart failure (HF) patients is significant and leads to longer hospital stay, higher readmission rates, and increased mortality. This review seeks to synthesize the available studies to determine the prevalence and incidence of cognitive impairment and dementia in HF patients. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, PsychoINFO, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched from their inception through to May 3, 2021. Study and population characteristics, total patients with HF, prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in HF patients, and cognitive assessment tool were abstracted by two reviewers. RESULTS: In HF patients, the overall prevalence for cognitive impairment and dementia was 41.42% (CI) and 19.79% (dementia), respectively. We performed a meta-regression analysis, which demonstrated that the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia increased with age. DISCUSSION: Further research should investigate whether HF accelerates the rate of cognitive decline and the progression of dementia.