Cognitive-Pulmonary Disease: neuropsychological functioning in patients with COPD

In more than 50% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cognitive impairment is found. Various cognitive domains are affected, such as psychomotor speed, planning, working memory, verbal memory and cognitive flexibility. However, cognitive impairment does not affect outcome measures used in pulmonary rehabilitation, such as psychological well-being, functional status, health status, knowledge of and need for information about the disease. Patients with cognitive impairment are less likely to complete a pulmonary rehabilitation programme. Active screening for cognitive impairment in COPD patients is necessary, because its presence could not be predicted based on demographic and clinical features.