Cognitive status of hospitalized therapeutic elderly patients

Abstract

Relevance. In connection with the trend toward an increase in life expectancy and aging of the population, the issue of timely detection and treatment of geriatric disorders in elderly and senile patients becomes relevant. The aim of the study is to analyze cognitive impairment in hospitalized elderly and senile patients.Materials and methods. The study involved 93 patients older than 75 years, namely 63 women (80,2±5,0 years) and 30 men (80,2±6,4 years). All patients underwent a brief geriatric examination. The probability of frailty syndrome was assessed using the "Age is not a barrier" questionnaire, the risk of falls was assessed using the Morse scale. Cognitive status was determined using the MINI-COG questionnaire and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale. The data of biochemical blood tests (creatinine, uric acid, glucose, total cholesterol and lipid spectrum, K, Na) were also taken into account.Results. Normal cognitive status was recorded in women 2,5 times more often than in men. Patients with dementia were more likely to be obese than those without dementia (70% versus 35%; χ2=4,46; p=0,035). Cognitive impairment was accompanied by a decrease in physical functioning: the risk of falls on the Morse scale in the group of patients with dementia was 25% (p=0,038) higher, and the score on the "Age is not a barrier" test was 45% (p=0,009) worse than in patients without dementia. Patients with dementia tended to hyperuricemia and hypokalemia. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed inverse relationships between MMSE scores and the presence of arterial hypertension (r=–0,43; p<0,05) and type 2 diabetes (r=–0,33; p<0,05), with physical functioning ("Age is not a barrier": r=–0,49; p<0,05 / Morse: r=–0,41; p<0,05), with uric acid level (r=–0,61; p<0,05) and creatinine (r=–0,37; p<0,05). The presence of arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus was combined with a more pronounced decrease in cognitive potential.Conclusions. The share of elderly patients reached 80% of all hospitalized persons. Dementia is 25% more common in men than in women. The presence of arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obesity increased the risk of dementia. The presence of dementia limits the physical functioning of patients by 45% and increases the risk of falls by 25%.