Psychological Deficiency Status of Elderly Patients with Age-Associated Comorbid Cardiopathology

Abstract

Objectives: With increasing age, the likelihood of cognitive impairment, anxiety-depressive syndrome increases among patients with comorbid arterial hypertension (AH) and coronary heart disease (CHD), which are rarely analyzed among the above-mentioned contingent. This study aimed to study the features of the psychological deficit profile of elderly patients with age-associated comorbid pathology.

Methodology: During inpatient treatment of patients aged 60-74 years, cognitive impairment, anxiety and depression were studied in 212 patients with isolated hypertension, 208 patients with isolated coronary artery disease and 223 patients with comorbid hypertension and coronary heart disease (AH+CHD). The patients of these groups are comparable in terms of basic demographic and medical characteristics, the diseases were in the compensation stage. The study did not include patients of other age categories, with preasthenia and senile asthenia syndrome. Cognitive dysfunction was assessed on the Mini-Mental-State-Examination scale, depression and anxiety on the Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS).

Results: Among patients with isolated AH, the average MMSE score was 24,7±0,3, isolated CHD – 21,3±0,2 and comorbid AH and CHD – 14,2±0,2 with a statistically significant difference in all groups (p<0,001). The average score of the anxiety level reached 8,4±0,2, 9,1±0,2 and 11,2±0,3 points, respectively, with a significant difference between the groups. According to the HADS-D scale, the average depression level score among the selected clinical groups was 8,7±0,3; 9,6±0,2 and 11,5±0,4 points, respectively, with a significant difference in all cases.

Conclusion: Comorbid AH and CHD has the most negative impact on the psychological deficit profile of elderly patients than the presence of isolated AH or CHD.