Cognition and chronic airway flow limitation

What is it about?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can affect cognition. The effects of other less severe chronic airway disorders on cognition remain to be clarified. This study aimed to measure and compare cognitive deterioration in subjects with COPD, subjects with chronic non-obstructive bronchitis (CNOB), and asymptomatic smokers (AS), and to relate the corresponding prevalence to several demographic and clinical variables and to normal reference values.

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Why is it important?

Cognition can deteriorate substantially in subjects with chronic airway flow limitation (ie, COPD subjects), but also in subjects with milder persistent airway disorders (ie, CNOB subjects and AS). The extent and the prevalence of this deterioration were directly related to the severity of the respiratory impairment. We believe that the assessment of cognition in subjects suffering from chronic airway disorders, in particular of the obstructive nature, should enter the diagnostic routine.