Vol 5, No 5 (2004): Practical Diabetology
Research paper
Published online: 2004-10-26
Assessment of frequency of impaired cognitive functions in diabetic patients
Diabetologia Praktyczna 2004;5(5):255-260.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION. Diabetic patients are characterized by accelerated aging.
Therefore, it would be expected that this group of patients would more often present
cognitive disturbances strictly depending on the biological age.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. To assess the frequency of impaired cognitive functions in diabetic patients, the group of 259 subjects, aged above 50 years, was included into the study. Patients were examined with the use of the psychological state evaluation scales: Mini Mental State Examination and Clock Drawing Test. The obtained results were verified by psychological examination.
RESULTS. It was shown that cognitive dysfunction was present in 38.6% of diabetic patients, out of which 5.4% were diagnosed to have dementia. The presence of cognitive disturbances was dependent from the duration of diabetes (p < 0.005), HbA1c value (p < 0.05), blood pressure value (p < 0.05) and vascular complications (p < 0.05). It was also related to living in the countryside (p < 0.05), being inmarried (p < 0.05), and most of all - level of education (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS. The data obtained suggest, that this group of diabetic patients requires specific and different methods of education.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. To assess the frequency of impaired cognitive functions in diabetic patients, the group of 259 subjects, aged above 50 years, was included into the study. Patients were examined with the use of the psychological state evaluation scales: Mini Mental State Examination and Clock Drawing Test. The obtained results were verified by psychological examination.
RESULTS. It was shown that cognitive dysfunction was present in 38.6% of diabetic patients, out of which 5.4% were diagnosed to have dementia. The presence of cognitive disturbances was dependent from the duration of diabetes (p < 0.005), HbA1c value (p < 0.05), blood pressure value (p < 0.05) and vascular complications (p < 0.05). It was also related to living in the countryside (p < 0.05), being inmarried (p < 0.05), and most of all - level of education (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS. The data obtained suggest, that this group of diabetic patients requires specific and different methods of education.
Keywords: impaired cognitive functionsdiabetes mellitus