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Study Disputes Link Between Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Cognitive Decline: Presented at ANA
By Charlene Laino
BALTIMORE, Md. -- October 18, 2009 -- Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) does not lead to long-term cognitive decline, researchers reported here on October 13 at the American Neurological Association (ANA) 134th Annual Meeting.
In a 2001 study, researchers from Duke University reported late cognitive decline among patients who received CAGB, said Ola A. Selnes, PhD, Professor of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. "But the researchers did not include control groups to account for the presence of vascular disease risk factors," he said.
The new study involved 69 healthy controls and 326 people with coronary artery disease. Of the 326 patients, 152 underwent CABG, 99 were treated medically, and 75 received off-pump coronary artery grafting.
The primary outcome was change from baseline in verbal memory, visual memory, visuoconstruction, language, motor speed, attention, executive function, and a composite global score.
At 72 months, no significant differences in cognitive outcomes, memory, or other mental functions were identified between the 3 coronary artery groups. However, all 3 groups had lower performance at baseline and greater decline at 72 months in visual memory (P = .01), visuoconstruction (P < .01), language (P = .01), and global score (P < .01) compared with the healthy controls.
"What matters is whether you have coronary artery disease, not what treatment you receive," Dr. Selnes said.
"The good news is that the cognitive decline is very subtle, so subtle that patients thought the changes were part of normal aging," he added.
[Presentation title: Impact of Coronary Artery Disease on Long-Term Cognitive Outcome. Abstract T-33]
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