Early Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients With High Blood Pressure

摘要

High Blood Pressure (HBP) might produce cognitive dysfunction. It is hypothesized that cognitive function in hypertensive patients without somatic and neurological complications might be altered. 84 patients were divided into two groups: G1 (24 patients, systolic blood pressure (SP) = 140-159; diastolic (DP) = 90-99), G2 (60 patients, SP >= 160; DP >= 100) and 35 control subjects All groups were studied with tests for exploring attention (Sustained and Executive Attention), short-term memory (Sternberg and Visual Search Tests) and the functional state of frontal cortex (Stroop [ST] and Wisconsin Sorting Card Tests [WSCT]). Patients showed less right answers, more wrong responses, more lack of answers and more delayed reaction times than controls in all attention, short-term memory and in ST, and completed fewer categories and had more errors in WSCT. It is concluded that HBP produces early cognitive abnormalities in asymptomatic stages, leading to functional cortical dysfunction mainly in frontal lobes, probably linked to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.