Julius Burkauskas1, Adomas Bunevičius1, Julija Brožaitienė1, Julius Neverauskas1, Naomi A Fineberg2, David Wellsted3, Robertas Bunevičius1, Narseta Mickuvienė1. 1. Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania. 2. Highly Specialised Service for Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom. 3. The Centre for Health Services and Clinical Research, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Fatigue and reduced exercise capacity are common concomitants of coronary artery disease (CAD). They are known to be associated with the deterioration in mental health, including emotional and cognitive status. However, the precise nature of the inter-relationship is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between fatigue and exercise capacity on the one hand and changes in cognitive functioning on the other, to generate new heuristics for clinical management and outcome prediction of CAD. METHODS: A cross-sectional study included 827 in-patients (58 ± 9 years, 75% men) with CAD. Patients were evaluated for demographic, cardiac characteristics, and exercise capacity. The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 was used to assess fatigue, the Mini Mental State Examination for global cognitive function, the Digit Span Test, Digit Symbol Test, and Trail Making Test for executive aspects of cognitive functioning, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for anxiety and depression symptom severity. RESULTS: Using multiple regression analysis, after adjusting for possible confounders such as anxiety and depression, mental fatigue was associated with several executive aspects of cognitive function including short-term memory (Digit Symbol Test pairs recalled correctly [β = -0.127, p < 0.005]), psychomotor performance (time to complete the Digit Symbol Test [β = 0.089, p < 0.03]), and cognitive processing speed (Trail Making Test A [β = 0.081, p < 0.05]). CONCLUSION: In rehabilitating CAD patients, certain aspects of executive functioning were independently associated with mental fatigue. These findings suggest that the subjective experience of mental fatigue, rather than reduced exercise capacity, is significantly associated with cognitive function.
OBJECTIVE:Fatigue and reduced exercise capacity are common concomitants of coronary artery disease (CAD). They are known to be associated with the deterioration in mental health, including emotional and cognitive status. However, the precise nature of the inter-relationship is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between fatigue and exercise capacity on the one hand and changes in cognitive functioning on the other, to generate new heuristics for clinical management and outcome prediction of CAD. METHODS: A cross-sectional study included 827 in-patients (58 ± 9 years, 75% men) with CAD. Patients were evaluated for demographic, cardiac characteristics, and exercise capacity. The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 was used to assess fatigue, the Mini Mental State Examination for global cognitive function, the Digit Span Test, Digit Symbol Test, and Trail Making Test for executive aspects of cognitive functioning, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for anxiety and depression symptom severity. RESULTS: Using multiple regression analysis, after adjusting for possible confounders such as anxiety and depression, mental fatigue was associated with several executive aspects of cognitive function including short-term memory (Digit Symbol Test pairs recalled correctly [β = -0.127, p < 0.005]), psychomotor performance (time to complete the Digit Symbol Test [β = 0.089, p < 0.03]), and cognitive processing speed (Trail Making Test A [β = 0.081, p < 0.05]). CONCLUSION: In rehabilitating CAD patients, certain aspects of executive functioning were independently associated with mental fatigue. These findings suggest that the subjective experience of mental fatigue, rather than reduced exercise capacity, is significantly associated with cognitive function.
Authors: Julija Gecaite-Stonciene; Brian M Hughes; Julius Burkauskas; Adomas Bunevicius; Nijole Kazukauskiene; Lisanne van Houtum; Julija Brozaitiene; Julius Neverauskas; Narseta Mickuviene Journal: Front Physiol Date: 2021-08-17 Impact factor: 4.566
Authors: Julija Gecaite-Stonciene; Naomi A Fineberg; Aurelija Podlipskyte; Julius Neverauskas; Alicja Juskiene; Narseta Mickuviene; Julius Burkauskas Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-11-03 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Julija Gecaite-Stonciene; Adomas Bunevicius; Julius Burkauskas; Julija Brozaitiene; Julius Neverauskas; Narseta Mickuviene; Nijole Kazukauskiene Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-10-30 Impact factor: 3.390