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Comparing Memory and Executive Function Performance in Coronary Artery Disease Patients Dichotomized into Low and High Cortisol Groups over 1 year of Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cognitive impairment in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients can predict poorer quality of life, dementia, and increased mortality. This study aimed to determine the association between long-term cortisol elevations and cognitive function in CAD patients. Participants were recruited at the beginning of a 1 year cardiac rehabilitation program and followed forward. Composite Z-scores were computed from tests measuring memory and executive function at baseline and 1 year. Cortisol deposition (3 months) was measured from a 20 mg, 3 cm hair sample. Analyses of covariance showed less improvement in memory function (F1,50=4.721, p=0.035) but not executive function (F1,49=0.318, p=0.575) in patients dichotomized into a high cortisol group based on a previously established reference range. Prolonged cortisol elevation may be associated with cognitive changes in subjects with CAD.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:TORONTO/oai:tspace.library.utoronto.ca:1807/31426
Date20 December 2011
CreatorsSaleem, Mahwesh
ContributorsLanctôt, Krista
Source SetsUniversity of Toronto
Languageen_ca
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis

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