Heart failure and cognitive dysfunction

• This systematic review differentiates various types of cognitive impairment.
• We discuss the utility of different cognitive screening modalities.
• We investigated the impact of cognitive impairment on management of heart failure.

It has been estimated that 5.1 million Americans suffer from heart failure. Cognitive impairment has been described as a consequence of heart failure in numerous studies spanning the last three decades. This systematic review helps differentiate “cognitive impairment” into mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and delirium. We evaluate the prevalence, pathophysiology, treatment modalities, and possible outcomes previously described with these associations in heart failure. This review also assesses the utility of the different screening modalities and their efficacy as they pertain to recognizing cognitive impairment.