Executive Function and Instrumental ADL Performance in Older Adults with Heart Failure

Impairments in cognitive function are common among older adults with heart failure (HF) and associated with reduced quality of life and increased mortality risk. Executive function has been identified as a significant contributor to instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) performance among various medical populations, though this has yet to be fully examined in a HF population. The current study examined whether executive function mediates the relationship between HF severity and performance of instrumental ADLs. The current sample consisted of 120 persons with HF (67.71 ± 9.17 years of age, 33.3% female). Participants completed a brief neuropsychological battery, a series of psychosocial self-report measures, and impedance cardiography was conducted to quantify cardiac index. Executive dysfunction and reduced instrumental ADL performance was common in the current sample. Bivariate correlations revealed that cardiac index was not significantly associated with executive function or total instrumental ADLs (p > .05 for both) and thus mediation analyses were not conducted. Post-hoc analyses revealed a trend between executive function and total instrumental ADLs (¿F(1,118) = 3.02, ¿R2 = .02, p = .085), with better executive function associated with increased ability to perform instrumental ADLs. Partial correlation analyses also revealed reduced executive function was associated with decreased physical quality of life, mental quality of life, and basic ADL performance (p < .05 for all). In sum, the current findings do not support executive function as a mediator between the relationship of cardiac index and instrumental ADLs. However, our findings suggest a possible role for executive function in the performance of instrumental ADLS and prospective studies should further explore this link.

Name thesis:degree_name

MA

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher

Kent State University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Alosco, Michael L.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gunstad, John

• Psychology
• Neurosciences
• Clinical Psychology
• Heart failure
• executive function
• activities of daily living
• cognitive function

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1364204867

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:kent1364204867