Gender-based clinical study on the association of cognitive impairment with drinking and smoking

Yingying Fu,Shunda Wang,Guoping Zhang,Xiaoli Chen

doi:10.4314/tjpr.v17i9.27

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking among the elderly population of a Chinese city with a risk of developing cognitive decline and dementia.Methods: In this study, 1687 participants from the suburban town of Yanliang in Xi'an Sub-province, Shanxi Province, China in the age group of 60 - 65 years and who have not develop cognitive decline were assessed over a 6-year period. The study involved the evaluation of gender-based effect on alcohol consumption and smoking cigarette and its impact on cognitive functions.Results: The study observed that smokers have a higher risk of cognitive decline than non-smokers (odds ratio = 1.51; 95 % CI = (1.07 – 2.11). Interestingly, the odds ratio of the smokers among the female subjects was 1.54; 95 % CI (1.02 - 2.49) compared to female non-smokers. Moreover, a dosedependent relationship was observed for those female smoker with higher pack-years compared to nonsmokers (p = 0.003). On the other hand, regular alcohol consumption also increased the possibility of dementia and cognitive decline (odds ratio = 1.69; CI at 95 % = (1.03 – 2.75), hence a dose-dependent relationship was observed between male users (p = 0.042).Conclusion: The results suggest that alcohol consumption and smoking are linked with cognitive decline among the female subjects in the age group of 60 – 65 years. Thus, the relationship between these factors is characterized by gender difference which may be due to female sex hormones.Keywords: Cognitive health, Alcohol consumptions, Smoking, Elderly population

Highlights

The population of the Chinese people which is ≥ 65 years constitutes around 15 % as per 2010 census [1]
There is an urgent need for checking the development of cognitive impairment among these elderly populations which can be prevented by identifying the changeable risk factors
All procedures were performed in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or similar ethical standards [11]

Summary

Introduction

The population of the Chinese people which is ≥ 65 years constitutes around 15 % as per 2010 census [1]. The number of these elderly populations is increasing day by day. A social burden comprising of cognitive health issues such as dementia, loss of cognitive functions, sensory impairments, malnutrition, physical injury has become an important issue [2]. Among the elderly Chinese population, cognitive decline or cognitive impairment is the major health issue [2]. There is an urgent need for checking the development of cognitive impairment among these elderly populations which can be prevented by identifying the changeable risk factors. There are various reports that suggest dementia or

Methods

Results

Conclusion