Peculiarities of cardiac rehabilitation patients’ general intelligence

Abstract

Background. We have a lack of older persons’ intelligence studies, so we know a little about intelligence changes with age and after heart diseases. The aim of this study was to describe peculiarities of general intelligence structure of cardiac rehabilitation patients. Methods. Study was conducted in Abromiskes Rehabilitation Hospital Inpatient Cardiac department (Lithuania) during the period of 2014–2016. Participants (N = 118) were administered Intelligence Structure test in order to assess general intelligence, consisting from verbal, numerical, figurative intelligence. Findings. T-test showed no statistically significant gender differences (p>0.05). There was find negative correlation between participants’ age and verbal, numerical and figurative as well as general intelligence (resp., r = -0.310, r = -0.192, r = -0.290, r = -0.277, p < 0,05). Cardiac rehabilitation patients have lower intelligence compared to their peers from standardization sample (supposed to be healthy), but these differences remain significant only for those who are older than 51 (p < 0.05). According to the results of factor analysis, 51,5% of general intelligence in the age from 51 to 70 could be explained by two factors: verbal-numerical and figurative intelligence. Discussion: Cardiac rehabilitation patients’ intelligence doesn’t differ according to the gender, but it significantly declines with an age from 41 to 70 years. 51-70 years old patients’ intelligence is lower than healthy ones, but, in contrast, 41-50 years old patients’ intelligence doesn’t differ from healthy sample. The findings provide a support for intelligence de-differentiation hypothesis. Research was supported by Research Council of Lithuania, project No. MIP-081/2014