Diabetes, hemoglobin A1c, and cognitive performance in older adults: is there any impact of frailty? Evidence from the ELSI-Brazil study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between diabetes and cognitive performance in a nationally representative study in Brazil. We also aimed to investigate the interaction between frailty and diabetes on cognitive performance. A cross-sectional analysis of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil) baseline data that included adults aged 50 years and older was conducted. Linear regression models were used to study the association between diabetes and cognitive performance. A total of 8,149 participants were included, and a subgroup analysis was performed in 1,768 with hemoglobin A1c data. Diabetes and hemoglobin A1c levels were not associated with cognitive performance. Interaction of hemoglobin A1c levels with frailty status was found on global cognitive z-score (P-value for interaction=0.038). These results suggested an association between higher hemoglobin A1c levels and lower cognitive performance only in non-frail participants. Additionally, undiagnosed diabetes with higher hemoglobin A1c levels was associated with both poor global cognitive (ß=-0.36; 95%CI: -0.62; -0.10, P=0.008) and semantic verbal fluency performance (ß=-0.47; 95%CI: -0.73; -0.21, P=0.001). In conclusion, higher hemoglobin A1c levels were associated with lower cognitive performance among non-frail participants. Higher hemoglobin A1c levels without a previous diagnosis of diabetes were also related to poor cognitive performance. Future longitudinal analyses of the ELSI-Brazil study will provide further information on the role of frailty in the association of diabetes and glycemic control with cognitive decline.

Diabetes, hemoglobin A1c, and cognitive performance in older adults: is there any impact of frailty? Evidence from the ELSI-Brazil study

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between diabetes and cognitive performance in a nationally representative study in Brazil. We also aimed to investigate the interaction between frailty and diabetes on cognitive performance. A cross-sectional analysis of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil) baseline data that included adults aged 50 years and older was conducted. Linear regression models were used to study the association between diabetes and cognitive performance. A total of 8,149 participants were included, and a subgroup analysis was performed in 1,768 with hemoglobin A1c data. Diabetes and hemoglobin A1c levels were not associated with cognitive performance. Interaction of hemoglobin A1c levels with frailty status was found on global cognitive z-score (P-value for interaction=0.038). These results suggested an association between higher hemoglobin A1c levels and lower cognitive performance only in non-frail participants. Additionally, undiagnosed diabetes with higher hemoglobin A1c levels was associated with both poor global cognitive (β=-0.36; 95%CI: -0.62; -0.10, P=0.008) and semantic verbal fluency performance (β=-0.47; 95%CI: -0.73; -0.21, P=0.001). In conclusion, higher hemoglobin A1c levels were associated with lower cognitive performance among non-frail participants. Higher hemoglobin A1c levels without a previous diagnosis of diabetes were also related to poor cognitive performance. Future longitudinal analyses of the ELSI-Brazil study will provide further information on the role of frailty in the association of diabetes and glycemic control with cognitive decline.

Calculating Route: Functional Trajectories and Long-Term Outcomes in Survivors of Severe COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated functional trajectories after severe COVID-19 and estimated their associations with adverse outcomes (falls, rehospitalizations, institutionalization, or death), cognition and post COVID-19 condition within 1-year of hospital discharge. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: A large academic medical center in Sao Paulo, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Survivors of COVID-19 admissions to an intensive care unit. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS: We evaluated participants' disability status before hospital admission and three, six, nine, and twelve months after discharge using 15 activities of daily living. During follow-up, cognition and post COVID-19 condition (defined as persistent symptoms with duration ≥2 months) were assessed. A latent class growth analysis was performed to investigate functional trajectories after discharge. RESULTS: We included 422 participants (median age 63 years, 13.5% were frail before COVID-19). Four distinct functional trajectories could be identified: "minimal disability trajectory" (37.4% of participants), "mild disability trajectory" (37.9%), "moderate disability trajectory" (16.8%), and "severe disability trajectory" (7.8%). Compared with minimal disability trajectory, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for 1-year adverse outcomes were 2.28 (1.38-3.76) for minor disability trajectory; 4.21 (2.10-8.42) for moderate disability trajectory; and 4.16 (1.51-11.46) for severe disability trajectory, even after adjustments. The occurrence of post COVID-19 condition was 67.5% and associated with functional trajectories (p=0.004). Cognition was also associated with functional trajectories. CONCLUSION: Severe COVID-19 survivors can experience diverse functional trajectories, with those presenting higher levels of disability at increased risk for long-term adverse outcomes. Further investigations are essential to confirm our findings and assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions, aiming to improve health outcomes in those who survived severe COVID-19 and other causes of sepsis.