[Prognostic factors of cognitive deterioration in patients with cerebral infarcts].

Introduction: Cognitive deterioration is a frequent finding in patients who have had a cerebral infarct which affected their quality of life. The prognostic factors associated with this are still not completely clear.
Objectives: To determine the frequency of cognitive deterioration following cerebral infarct and the prognostic factors associated with its appearance.
Patients and Methods: We made a study of a prospective pohort in the Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Hermanos Ameijeiras de Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba, in 401 patients with the confirmed diagnosis of cerebral infarct during the period March 1997 February 2000. A questionnaire was completed for all patients. This contained the possible variables for prognosis. The neuropsychological tests were done 3 and 6 months after the cerebral infarct occurred to determine the appearance of cognitive deterioration. Statistical analysis included the c2 test, relative risk estimation, and multiple logistic regression analysis.
Results: The frequency of cognitive deterioration 3 and 6 months after the cerebral infarct occurred was 22.2% and 6.9% respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed prognostic variables of cognitive deterioration to be arterial hypertension (p=0.001, RR:2.0) and the number of current cerebral infarcts shown on computerized axial tomography (p=0.000, RR:5.2).
Conclusions: Cognitive deterioration was a frequent complication after a cerebral infarct and several prognostic factors were associated with its appearance.