Comparison of risk factors for dementia among rural and urban elderly adults-data from two cohort studies in India.

Abstract

Studies on risk factors for dementia in India, especially rural India, are sparse and therefore we aimed to assess risk factors in a rural cohort on aging and compare it with an urban cohort. We are presenting baseline data on proportion of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) scores in both cohorts. The rural cohort is younger and less educated than the urban cohort. The chi-square test showed that the proportion of participants with hypertension, diabetes, and obesity was lower in the rural cohort, whereas physical inactivity was higher in comparison with the urban cohort; however, the proportion of high-risk CAIDE scores was higher in the rural cohort. Despite the rural cohort having a smaller proportion of participants with hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, the overall CAIDE score was higher-the main reason for this is low educational level.