RESUMO
Background: Cognitive impairment, an age-related condition, is often considereda precursor to more serious diseases such as depression/dementia/Alzheimer’sdisease. Alzheimer’s disease, which is characterized by cognitive impairment,could have a devastating impact on low- and middle-income countries whosepopulations are ageing rapidly. The disease has, so far, largely remainedneglected by researchers and national health services in India. In view of thegrowing elderly population and diverse sociocultural and geographical milieu ofIndia, epidemiological data for the condition are desirable for different populations.Moreover, there is a dearth of population-based epidemiological studies oncognitive impairment in the Punjab state of India.Methods: Three thousand and thirty-eight consenting elderly adults aged over60 years, of both sexes, residing in Ludhiana, Punjab state, India were examinedfor cognitive functioning, using a modified Hindi Mental State Examination, and ascore of ≤25 was considered to be indicative of cognitive impairment. Data analysisincluded calculations of proportions; odds ratio and their 95% confidence intervals(CIs) were also calculated. The chi-square test and multiple logistic regressionmodel were used to determine the association of cognitive impairment with varioussociodemographic parameters.Results: The prevalence of cognitive impairment in the study population was 8.8%(95% CI = 8.06 to 9.54). Increasing age, unmarried/widowed status, illiteracy,unemployment and poverty were found to be independently associated withcognitive impairment.Conclusions: The prevalence of cognitive impairment in this north Indianpopulation of elderly individuals is higher than that found in northern India. Withemerging focus on geriatric health services, cognitive impairment, which is aprecursor of Alzheimer’s disease/dementias, needs to be included in priority carewithin the national primary health-care framework.
