Assessment of Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Using the Rapid Cognitive Screen

摘要

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients using the Rapid Cognitive Screen (RCS).DesignCross sectional study.ParticipantsA total of 106 men and women with COPD 50 years of age or older. Setting: Pulmonary ambulatory clinic in a tertiary academic center in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.MeasurementsWe enrolled patients with COPD who completed the RCS tool. Patients were classified as having normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or dementia if they scored 8, 6-7, or 5, respectively. The prevalence of each category was measured, and patients' baseline characteristics were compared.ResultsOne hundred and six patients completed the RCS. Of those, 36 (33.9%) patients scored 5 on the RCS, 33 (31.1%) scored 6 or 7, and 37 (34.9%) scored 8. The prevalence of dementia, MCI, and normal cognition were 33.9%, 31.1%, and 34.9%, respectively. Baseline lung function was not different between patients with normal cognition and those with abnormal cognition (FEV1 1.53 0.39 vs 1.45 +/- 0.32 L). In patients with abnormal cognition, there was no difference in patients' characteristics between patients with MCI or dementia.ConclusionCognitive impairment is highly prevalent in patients with COPD. RCS successfully identified cognitive impairment in COPD. We recommend performing RCS in patients with COPD routinely.