This research characterizes cardiac patients from a single center to assess cognition, mood, and diet during the COVID pandemic.

Individuals with cardiovascular disease are increasingly reporting changes in their diet and cognitive abilities, and these changes can be accompanied by physical, mood deficits, that may greatly impact daily activities and quality of life.

Telephone questionnaires were administered through the phone to 48 patients recruited from various cardiac clinics in the Rush University Health system. These tools consisted of a 42-item COVID questionnaire to assess coping,  PHQ-9, 15-item MIND screener, and the telephone version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Statistical analysis was conducted via SPSS. 

On average, participants were older (m = 69.5 ± 9.8 years), majority white (n = 40), females (n = 42). Patients are feeling isolated (m = 3.3/5 ± 1.2) and worried about themselves or loved ones contracting COVID (m = 3.6/5 ± 1.0) Additionally, patients believe staying at home during COVID is very important (4/5 ± 1.1) and would very readily take a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 offered by the government (3.6/5  ± 1.4). Only 29% of patients believe that the flu is just as dangerous as COVID-19.

PHQ-9:17, 9, and 3 patients falling into mild, moderate, and severe depression thresholds, respectively (m = 5.9/20 ± 4.4)

MIND diet screener: 81% of patient’s diets have changed due to COVID (m = 8.7/14 ± 2.2). 

MoCA: 52% of patients had scores below 19 (MCI) (18.6 ± 1.9/22) with the two lowest domain scores in language & delayed recall.

Preliminary data from this study suggests that patients are experiencing loneliness, mild depression, and worry in the ongoing COVID pandemic. Additionally, most patients have experienced a change in their diet, but exhibit moderate-to-high adherence to the MIND diet. Finally, over half of surveyed patients have mild cognitive impairment.