Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cognitive function, and physical fitness in heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment in HF in part stems from medical comorbidities and poor physical fitness. COPD, a frequent co-existing condition in HF, is a risk factor for cognitive impairment and a known cause of poor physical fitness. Yet, the interplay among COPD, cognition, and physical fitness has never been examined in HF. METHODS: 191 HF patients completed a cognitive test battery and brief physical fitness assessment. Diagnostic history of COPD was ascertained via medical chart review. RESULTS: Regression analyses showed HF patients with COPD exhibited worse attention/executive function and poorer fitness relative to their non-COPD counterparts. Worse fitness correlated with cognitive dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: COPD is associated with reduced cognition and worse fitness in HF. Longitudinal work that employs objective assessments of COPD is needed to determine directionality and clarify mechanisms.