Evaluation of Vitamin D and Clock Drawing Test Performance in Low Educated Elderly Patients

Abstract

Purpose: We aimed to investigate whether CDT and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) level are predictors for sun exposure and walking duration, and aimed to investigate whether CDT is reliable in low educated (LE) elderly. Material and Methods: A total of 185 LE patients without dementia above the age of 65 who had applied to internal medicine clinic were included in the study. The patients' demographic data, sun exposure, walking duration, a history of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the number of falls were recorded. Clock drawing was measured using Manos scoring system. Results: The study population included 127 (68.6%) males with a mean age of 73 +/- 6 years and 58 (31.4%) females with a mean age of 70 +/- 5 years. According to Manos scoring system a total of 90 (48.6%) subjects had a CDT score of 0, 70 (37.9%) subjects had a CDT score of 1-9 and 25 (13.5%) subjects had a CDT score of 10. The mean vitamin D level of the patients was 18.4 +/- 7.3 ng/mL. Vitamin D levels and CDT scores were predictive for sun exposure, duration of walking, number of falls and CAD. Conclusion: CDT scores of LE subjects were unreliable to demonstrate cognitive functions. This study has shown that vitamin D levels to be more potent predictor than CDT scores to demonstrate sun exposure, walking duration, numbers of falls and the incidence of CAD in LE subjects. [Cukurova Med J 2015; 40(1.000): 6-17]

Keywords

• Vitamin D; clock drawing test; low education level
• sun exposure; physical activity