Report targets cognitive outcomes after cardiovascular procedures

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is making a draft report that assessed cardiovascular procedures and their subsequent effect on cognitive function available for public review.

The draft report summarizes findings from a systematic review to assess intermediate- and long-term cognitive outcomes on elderly patients who underwent cardiovascular procedures such as coronary and carotid revascularizations, cardiac valve replacement or repair and ablation for atrial fibrillation. The review also looks at procedure-related stroke, transient ischemic attack and other procedure and patient characteristics.

Outcomes of interest include clinical diagnoses such as dementia and mild cognitive impairment as well as neuropsychological test findings.

AHRQ’s Technology Assessment Program conducted the review in response to a request from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The agency uses the reports to inform its policy decisions.

AHRQ will accept comments from the public through Feb. 3. The draft report and a link to submit comments are available here.