Cognitive impairment and associated risk factors among aged community members.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this paper is to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors associated with cognitive impairment in a community-dwelling elderly population.


METHODS
1000 community residents aged 65-74 years were recruited in the cross-sectional survey of associated factors of cognitive impairment in southern Taiwan. We employed a multilevel stratified sampling strategy and conducted this interview survey from April to June 2001. The survey questionnaire included background information and the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire. The relationship between cognitive impairment and each individual variable in personal attributes and social participation were explored.


RESULTS
Eight hundred and ninety-four (89.4%) subjects completed the interview and questionnaires. The cognitive impairment rate among all subjects was 4.92%. Of those surveyed, 54.98% were male and 45.02% were female, and the average age was 69.37 (SD 2.73) years. Most survey respondents (72.05%) were married, and 68.90% of the subjects did not participate in any social activities in the last 6 months. Females, those who were illiterate or did not attend school, those who had an average family income below US$860 per month, and persons who did not participate in any social activities had a significantly higher rate of cognitive impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
The educational level and participation in social activities were associated with the cognitive impairment among the aged community dwellers.
Yen
Yung-Chieh
YC
Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Yang
Ming-Jen
MJ
Shih
Chun-Hua
CH
Lung
For-Wey
FW
D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology