Effects of cardiac rehabilitation on cognitive function in patients with acute coronary syndrome: A systematic review

• Published in: Heliyon Vol. 10; no. 12; p. e32890
• Main Authors: Ishihara, Kodai, Izawa, Kazuhiro P., Kitamura, Masahiro, Kanejima, Yuji, Ogawa, Masato, Yoshihara, Ryo, Morisawa, Tomoyuki, Shimizu, Ikki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 30-06-2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acute coronary syndrome; Cardiac rehabilitation; Cognitive function; Exercise; Multidomain intervention; Exercise; Acute coronary syndrome; Cognitive function; Cardiac rehabilitation; Multidomain intervention
• ISSN: 2405-8440; 2405-8440
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32890

Construction of an intervention method for the cognitive dysfunction of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is needed. Exercise-based comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation is a potentially effective approach that can improve cognitive function in ACS patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of cardiac rehabilitation on cognitive function in ACS patients through a systematic review.
A systematic review was conducted of studies on PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) on September 13, 2022, to identify those reporting the effects of cardiac rehabilitation on cognitive function in ACS patients. Data that reported exercise-based comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation and cognitive function (even if not main results and any type of cognitive function assessment was used) were extracted.
In total, six studies were included that comprised a total of 1085 ACS patients. Overall positive effects of cardiac rehabilitation on cognitive function in ACS patients were reported across the six studies. All studies included aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and patient education in cardiac rehabilitation. Meta-analysis could not be undertaken because each dataset used different methods to evaluate cognitive function, and the outcomes were different.
This systematic review showed that cardiac rehabilitation could have positive effects on cognitive function in ACS patients. Our results support the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation for cognitive function in ACS patients. Additional well-designed clinical trials of exercise-based comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation should be conducted to clarify the true effect on cognitive function in ACS patients.
•Interventions for cognitive dysfunction in ACS patients are needed.•Exercise-based comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation can be an effective approach.•Our systematic review showed positive effects on cognitive function in ACS patients.•Our results support the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation for cognitive function.•Well-designed clinical trials for cognitive function will be needed in the future.