Correlation of cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive function

Abstract

To evaluate the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive function in a healthy population. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Shenyang. The Framingham gender-specific risk equation was employed to evaluate the cardiovascular risk factors, calculate Framingham risk score and estimate the risk of 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD). A total of 505 study subjects were divided into 3 groups according to 10-year CHD risk: low risk(<10%), moderate risk (10%-20%) and high risk groups(>20%). They were also divided into 5 groups according to age; ≤ 44 year old; 45-54 year old; 55-64 year old; 65-74 year old and ≥ 75 years old. Clock drawing test and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) were used to evaluate the cognitive function and compare it among different risk groups. And correlation coefficients between Framingham risk score and cognitive function were calculated. Framingham risk score, clock drawing test sore and MMSE score in the low risk group was (2.6 ± 0.8), (4 ± 1) and (27 ± 3). In comparison to low risk group, Framingham risk score increased significantly (P < 0.01), MMSE score(25 ± 4) decreased significantly (P < 0.01) in moderate risk group, Framingham risk score (9.7 ± 1.0) increased significantly (P < 0.05) and clock drawing test scores (3 ± 1) and MMSE scores (23 ± 4) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in high risk group; in comparison to moderate risk group, clock drawing test and MMSE scores decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in high risk group. There was a significantly inverse correlation between Framingham risk score and cognitive function. And the Pearson correlation coefficients were -0.196(clock drawing test, P < 0.01) and -0.333 (MMSE, P < 0.01) . An inverse correlation exists between cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive function in healthy population. With more risk factors and greater severity, Framingham risk score increases while cognitive function decreases.