Executive function in systemic arterial hypertension: A systematic review

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) may be associated with worse cognitive performance, especially in tasks that evaluate the executive functions (EF). OBJECTIVE: we aimed to review the evidence regarding which components of executive functions are most affected in adults with SAH. METHODS: this systematic review used the PRISMA statement for searching Pubmed, Scielo and Lilacs databases with the keywords “executive function OR executive functioning AND hypertension”. RESULTS: EF tasks were divided into shifting, inhibitory control and updating. A total of 9 cross-sectional and 3 longitudinal studies were selected. Only 3 studies did not report worse performance among SAH patients on EF tasks when compared to normotensive controls. The measures of shifting and inhibitory control were the most frequently investigated and reported as altered among SAH individuals, assessed mainly by the Stroop Test and Trail-Making Test part B, respectively. CONCLUSION: inhibitory control and shifting are the EF components most influenced by SAH. The results of this review may contribute to the devising of hypotheses about mechanisms underlying these cognitive impairments.