Cases: Patients who were recently diagnosed as hypertensive and were prescribed antihypertensive therapy by their treating physician.

Inclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria:

Inclusion criteria:

Persons diagnosed as Hypertensive (SBP≥ 140 mmHg, DBP≥ 90 mmHg).

Persons with psychological and behavioral disorders or any other CNS disorder that could interfere with the memory and psychomotor functions.

Patients on any other medications (e.g. sedatives, antipsychotics, antidepressants, antihistaminic) that are known to affect memory and psychomotor functions.

Study tool: Predesigned pretested questionnaire was used to collect the information. The PGI memory scale (PGIMS) ^{10, 11} was employed to assess memory function of patients.

Methodology: Between May to July 2005, the investigator visited the OPD of private physician, each day in the morning from 9:00 A.M to 1:00 P.M for screening the patients. Those who met with the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in the study group. The aim and procedure of the study and the tests were explained to the subjects. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient. The baseline information was collected on the day zero i.e. before starting of the drug treatment. The patients were then evaluated with the help PGI memory scale after 3 months. Control group subjects were recruited from the faculty and staff of Govt. medical college, Surat. They were evaluated only once i.e. on the day of recruitment. Before applying tests for cognitive functions, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure was recorded by auscultatory method in study group at both the occasions, i.e. during recruitment and then subsequent assessment after 3 months. In control group blood pressure measured at the time of recruitment.

All the cognitive functions tests were conducted in Gujarati language. They were conducted in particular sequence and this sequence was maintained for every subject.

The PGI memory scale (PGIMS) ^8,9 was employed to assess memory function of patients. PGI memory scale consists of ten sub- tests. These tests measure different aspects of memory and employ different methods of recall. These tests are –

Remote memory: It comprises of six simple questions relating to the past events of personal life.

Recent memory: It consists of five questions that assess the patient’s ability to recall information and events in the recent past.

Immediate recall: This test includes sequential reproduction of the sentences in verbatim.

Mental balance: This test gives an idea of balance over ones mental functioning. The learned material (alphabet and numbers) were recalled in backward and forward series.

Attention and concentration: This function was evaluated by the test of digit span forward and backward repetition.

Word list memory test: In this test the investigator reads out the names of common objects (two series of five each) at a uniform interval. The patient was instructed to recall the same after one minute and score of correct recall recorded.

Paired associate test: A series of similar and dissimilar associative pairs of words were administered to the patient. Patient was asked to mention the associate words in response to the stimulus word.

Rays figure test: This is non-verbal visuomotor test for memory. Subjects are supposed to draw a geometrical figure which was shown to them for 30 seconds.

Recognition: In this test the investigator showed a card containing common objects. The patient was allowed to observe this card for 30 seconds. Two minutes later a second card containing another set of pictures having some picture appeared in first card shown to the patient. Patient was asked to identify and name the picture that appeared in both the cards. Correct responses were recorded and scores allotted accordingly.

It is a psychomotor function test in which perceptual processing of sensory information can be readily assessed. It is a pencil and paper test, easy to replicate. It is a useful indicator of drug induced changes. The worksheet for this test was prepared in Gujarati, English or Hindi. The worksheet of this test consists of three parts: First part consists of Name, age, sex of a patient with date and instructions. Second part includes the key that mentioned six target letters, while the third part is having working section. The working section displays randomized alphabets arranged in 22 rows and 14 columns. Within 90 seconds, patient asked to cancel as many as many target alphabets as possible. The letter cancellation was undertaken in a horizontal, vertical or randomized manner. Total number of cancellations and wrong cancellations were scored. To avoid the effect of memory, parallel worksheets were prepared by changing the 6 letter key.

This test comprise of judgment of length of line and drawing the line of same length.

12. Delayed recall test:

Subjects were asked to recall the three sentences of earlier immediate recall test. So it is the extension of immediate recall test.

Statistical analysis: Data obtained in the various tests was analyzed using SPSS version 12. Analysis of distribution of data was done using Komolgorov smirnov test and Shapiro wills test. Unpaired student t test was used to compare blood pressure and cognitive function between case and control. Paired t test used to compare blood pressure and cognitive functions at baseline and after 3 months.

Results: To see the effect of hypertension on cognitive functions, the cognitive functions are compared between hypertensive patients (study group) and healthy volunteers (control group). A total of 50 subjects were enrolled in each group.

Figure 1

Table 1. Baseline characteristics of case and control

Mean systolic blood pressure in cases was 149±6.73 and in controls was 123.05±6.18. There is significant difference between systolic blood pressure between study population and control population (P<0.001).

Mean diastolic blood pressure was also found to be statistically significant. (P<0.001).

It was observed that all the cases were prescribed Atenolol in the dose of 25-50 mg per day. Some of the patients were prescribed other antihypertensives like Amlodipine (n=5), Chlorthalidone (n=7) and antiplatelets like low dose aspirin (n=14) or Clopidogrel (n-6).

Figure 2

Table 2- Comparative test score showing cognitive fuctions between cases and controls:

Result shows that score of some subtests of cognitive functions in study group are significantly less than the control group. In the immediate recall test mean score in study group is 8.80 ± 1.28 while in control group it is 9.77 ± 1.50 which is significantly higher than study group (P<0.001). In the same way in mental balance test there is significant difference between study and control group score (6.13± 0.96 Vs 6.63 ± 1.12, P < 0.05). Score of forward digit span in study group is 4.77 ± 0.79 and in control it is 5.15 ± 0.96 which is also significantly differ (P<0.05). Significant change also seen in word list memory test (4.88 ± 0.95 Vs 5.63 ± 0.83, P < 0.001), Recognition test (10.73 ± 1.07 Vs 11.34 ± 0.88, P < 0.01) and six letter cancellation test (14.11 ± 3.9 Vs 17.31 ± 3.48, P < 0.001).

Results clearly indicate that hypertension may be responsible for the cognitive decline in patients of hypertension.

Effect of antihypertensive therapy on cognitive functions of hypertensive patients:

Baseline memory tests and blood pressure of cases was measured twice. Firstly, at the beginning of treatment, at day one and second at the end of three months. Adherence assured by checking the empty blister packet and checking the unused medicines. 5 subjects are lost to follow up during the study. It is seen that there was significant decrease in both systolic (149.11± 6.73 Vs 132.97 ± 7.77, P < 0.001) and diastolic (98.71 ± 71 Vs 84.62 ± 4.62, P < 0.001) blood pressure after three months of follow up.

After 3 months of therapy of antihypertensives there is significant improvement in some subtests of cognitive functions.

The score of immediate recall test at baseline is 8.80 ± 1.28 and after 3 months it became 9.42 ± 1.28. This is the significant improvement in immediate recall (P<0.001). Improvement also seen in the recognition test (initial score =10.73 ± 1.07 and subsequent score =11.42 ± 0.72, P<0.001), Six letter cancellation test (14.11 ± 3.9 Vs 16.77 ± 3.57, P<0.01) and delayed recall test (3.48 ± 1.16 Vs 4.06 ± 1.13, P < 0.001).

Improvement also seen in word list memory test where baseline score is 4.88 ± 0.95 and after 3 months it became 5.17 ± 0.77 which is also significant (P<0.05).

Figure 3

Table 3- Cognitive function test scores of cases at the start of therapy and after the follow up of three months.

During comparison of cases and controls, it was found that there is decline in cognitive functions as indicated by Immediate recall test, Mental balance test, Forward digit span test, Word list memory test, Recognition test and Six letter cancellation test. Out of these tests, Immediate recall test, Word list memory test, Recognition and Six letter cancellation test showed improvement after three months of antihypertensive therapy.

Some tests like Remote memory test, Recent memory test, Backward digit span test, Paired associate test, Ray’s figure test, Line test, Delayed recall test showed no decline. Out of these, only Delayed recall test showed improvement after three months of antihypertensive therapy.