Hearing loss was associated with cognitive impairment evaluated by Bangla Adaptation of Mini‐mental State Examination in a rural Bangladeshi elderly population

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) is the most commonly used, first line screening tool for dementia and cognitive decline in adults. The Bangla Adaptation of Mini‐mental State Examination (BAMSE) has been tested as a reliable instrument to assess cognitive function of the normal elderly Bangladeshi population with regards to the socio‐cultural context and low literacy rate of the country. However, there is lack of evidence regarding lifestyle and socioeconomic determinants of cognitive performance in Bangladeshi elderly population. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between lifestyle and socioeconomic determinants and cognitive impairment by BAMSE among elderly Bangladeshi.MethodData was collected from an on‐going surveillance site at Tarail subdistrict in Kishorgonj district.Among the total of 410 study participants aged ≥65 years, after excluding history of stroke and Parkinson’s disease, finally 314 participants were included in this analysis. Trained interviewers assessed cognitive function using the BAMSE questionnaires and self‐reported lifestyle factors (smoking: never, past, current; hearing: normal, poor, smelling: normal, poor, lost), socioeconomic factors (marital status: married, widowed/divorced; working status: farmer, other workers, non‐workers), medication use (hypertension and diabetes) by a questionnaire, and physical measurements (weight, height and blood pressure). Hypertension was defined as either anti‐hypertensive medication use or systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg. Literacy was defined as participants who had 1 year or more education. Cognitive impairment was defined by BAMSE score < 21. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the independent relationships between lifestyle and socioeconomic factors and cognitive impairment. Sex, age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, hearing, smelling, marital and working status, and literacy were used as explanatory variables.ResultMean age (standard deviation) was 72.5(years and literacy rate was 23.6% in men and 5.9% in women. People who have hearing loss was 1.94 higher odds ratio (95% confidence interval:1.08‐3.47) for cognitive impairment compared to normal hearing in the multivariable analysis. Each 5‐year age increments was also significantly associated with cognitive impairment in the same model.ConclusionHearing loss and older age were associated with cognitive impairment in elderly Bangladeshi in this study.