BMC Geriatrics (Oct 2020)

Effect of poor glycemic control in cognitive performance in the elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus: The Mexican Health and Aging Study

  • Alberto J. Mimenza-Alvarado,
  • Gilberto A. Jiménez-Castillo,
  • Sara G. Yeverino-Castro,
  • Abel J. Barragán-Berlanga,
  • Mario U. Pérez-Zepeda,
  • J. Alberto Ávila-Funes,
  • Sara G. Aguilar-Navarro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01827-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Abstract Background Cognitive impairment is twice more frequent in elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). This study was conducted to determine the association between glycemic control and cognitive performance among community-dwelling elderly persons in Mexico. Methods Cross-sectional study conducted in individuals aged 60 years or elderly participating in the 2012 Mexican Health and Aging Study. Type 2 DM participants were classified in 3 groups according to their glycated hemoglobin levels (HbA1c): < 7% (intensive control), 7–7.9% (standard control) or ≥ 8% (poor control), and cognitive performance: low (CCCE ≤44 points), intermediate (44.1–59.52 points), or high (≥59.53 points). Multinomial logistic regression models were constructed to determine this association. Results Two hundred sixteen community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older with type 2 diabetes were selected. Subjects in the low cognitive performance group were older (69.7 ± 6.6 vs 65.86 ± 5.18 years, p < .001) and had a lower educational level (2.5 ± 2.6 vs 7.44 ± 4.15 years, p < .000) when compared to the high cognitive performance participants. HbA1c ≥ 8% was associated with having low (Odds Ratio (OR) 3.17, 95% CI 1.17–8.60, p = .024), and intermediate (OR 3.23, 95% CI 1.27–8.20, p = .014) cognitive performance; this trend was not found for HbA1c 7.0–7.9% group. The multinomial regression analysis showed that the presence of HbA1c ≥ 8% (poor glycemic control) was associated with low (OR 3.17, 95% CI = 1.17–8.60, p = .024), and intermediate (OR 3.23, 95% CI = 1.27–8.20, p = .014) cognitive performance. After adjusting for confounding variables. Conclusions Glycemic control with a HbA1c ≥ 8% was associated with worse cognitive performance.

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