Spontaneous Echo Contrast in the Left Atrium and Aortic-Arch Atheroma, Detected by Transesophageal Echocardiography, Was Negatively Correlated with Cognitive Function.

BACKGROUND
The relationship between transesophageal echocardiography findings and cognitive function.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to establish an association between transesophageal echocardiography findings and cognitive function in stroke survivors.


METHODS
A single-center study was conducted between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2022. All subjects that were included had a past history of ischemic stroke and were admitted after >21 days from onset. The participants underwent cognitive function tests including a Mini-Mental State Examination, Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale, Frontal Assessment Battery, and transesophageal echocardiography.


RESULTS
The results of 126 participants were analyzed. The cognitive function of participants with a spontaneous echo contrast (+) in the left atrium including appendage or of those with an aorta-arch plaque with a maximum thickness ≥4 mm significantly worse while neither the patent foramen ovale nor the branch extending plaque influenced cognitive function (The median cognitive scores of the spontaneous echo contrast (-) versus (+) were 26 versus 22, p < 0.01 **, 26 versus 21, p < 0.001 ***, and 14 versus 11, p < 0.01 **. Those of the aortic-arch plaque max thickness (<4 mm) versus (≥4 mm) were 26 versus 25, p < 0.05 *, 27 versus 24, p < 0.05 *, and 15 versus 13, p < 0.05 *).


CONCLUSION
Our findings show that spontaneous echo contrast in the left atrium and aortic-arch atheroma detected by transesophageal echocardiography, were negatively associated with cognitive function.