Abstract
Background:Cognitive impairment among elderly is increasing owing to increases in life expectancy globally. The problem is multifactorial. The objective of the present paper was to study the correlates of cognitive impairment in an urban elderly population in India.Methods:A cross sectional study was conducted among 100 randomly selected urban elderly population. Data was collected upon household visits using a predesigned pretested questionnaire administered by a trained investigator. Measurements included cognitive function assessment using Mini Mental State Examination, depression assessment using Geriatric Depression Scale, blood pressure measurement and anthropometry. Cognitive impairment was defined at MMSE score <24. Logistic regression was done to identify independently associated factors with cognitive impairment.Results:Prevalence of cognitive impairment among elderly was 10%. Women had a higher prevalence than men. Higher age, no schooling, living single, lower weight, lower waist and hip ratios, difficulty in activities of daily living, poor self-reported health, bedridden and depression significantly associated with cognitive impairment. The independently associated factors upon logistic regression were increasing age, no schooling and bedridden status for past six months.Conclusion:Although the current prevalence of cognitive impairment among Indian urban elderly is low, several associated factors exist in this population that may increase the burden in future. Geriatric health policy should address the modifiable risk factors to manage the problem of cognitive impairment and its consequent outcomes.
Highlights
Global population of elderly is growing at a fast pace
We found a paucity of studies describing the prevalence and correlates for cognitive impairment among Indian elderly
There was no difference in ages of women and men. (Table 1) Women were significantly more non-educated and living single than men
Summary
Global population of elderly is growing at a fast pace. India, the projected second highest contributor to world’s elderly after China, will be home for 323 million elderly population (60 years or older) by the year 2050 compared to current 93 million in the year 2011 [1]. The current demographic transition leading to increases in older population [2], is likely to present challenges such as poor quality of life and increased dependency [3] primarily due to several changes in ageing brain affecting (and including) cognition [4]. Researchers from western countries have reported that physical health of the elderly that include mobility disability, falls, fractures, fatigue, frailty, cardiovascular events, obesity, constipation and others, are related to their cognitive state [8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. Cognitive impairment among elderly is increasing owing to increases in life expectancy globally.
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