Abstract

Objective. This study aims to characterize neurocognitive functioning after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and to determine the relations between sociodemographic, cardiovascular risk factors and clinical variables with different aspects of neurocognitive functioning. Moderation effects regarding those relations will be determined.

Methods. The Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III (ACE-III) was administered to 60 participants with history of ACS, selected at the first consult of cardiac rehabilitation and at the cardiology outpatient consult. Univariate analysis was preformed through Spearman correlations and Mann-Whitney U test. The moderation hypothesis was tested through Haye’s PROCESS, version 3 for SPSS.

Results. Neurocognitive function is correlated to age, however this relation is moderated by the number of previous cardiovascular risk factors, body mass index and waist circumference; Verbal fluency domain correlates with years of education and this correlation is moderated by previous alcohol consumption and ventricular ejection fraction; Language domain is correlated to diastolic blood pressure, however this relation is moderated by years of education.

Conclusions. This study unveils some of the complex interactions between ACS and neurocognitive functioning. In this context, a focal predictor could have different repercussions on neurocognitive functioning according to a moderator