Post TAVR Cognitive Function at Short Term: Better or Worse?

There is little information on the short and mid-term evolution of cognitive function after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

The aim of this study was to describe global changes in cognitive function and changes in specific cognitive domains one year after TAVR.

Fifty one patients undergoing TAVR, median age 80, were prospectively followed to assess cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test (MoCA) at baseline, 30 days and one year. Specific cognitive functions (e.g. verbal fluency) were assessed with pertinent tests.

Baseline MoCA outcomes, which assesses cognition globally, was 22.71 ± 3.84. Twenty patients (39.2%) showed cognitive decline at baseline, according to test results (<23 of 30 points).

MoCA scores improved at short term after TAVR and remained stable at one year (p = 0.022). There were no significant changes over time in specific cognitive domain test outcomes.

Conclusion

TAVR improves cognitive function, which is more obvious in patients presenting cognitive decline at baseline. There was also early decline of some specific functions in one quarter of patients that persisted at one year in 10% of these patients.

Original Title: Serial Changes in Cognitive Function Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Reference: Vincent Auffret et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016;68(20):2129-2141.

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