Prevalence of cognitive and functional impairment in a community sample in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed at estimating the prevalence of cognitive and functional impairment (CFI) in a community sample in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, evaluating its distribution in relation to various socio-demographic and clinical factors.


METHODS
The population was a representative sample aged 60 and older, from three different socio-economic classes. Cluster sampling was applied. Instruments used to select CFI (a syndromic category that does not exclude dementia): 'Mini Mental State Examination' (MMSE), 'Fuld Object Memory Evaluation' (FOME), 'Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly' (IQCODE), 'Bayer Activities of Daily Living Scale' (B-ADL) and clinical interviews. The data obtained were submitted to bivariate and logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
A sample of 1.145 elderly persons was evaluated, with a mean age of 70.9 years (60-100; DP: 7.7); 63.4% were female, and 52.8% had up to 4 years of schooling. CFI prevalence was 18.9% (n = 217). Following logistic regression analysis, higher age, low education, stroke, epilepsy and depression were associated with CFI. Female sex, widowhood, low social class and head trauma were associated with CFI only on bivariate analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
CFI prevalence results were similar to those found by studies in Brazil, Puerto Rico and Malaysia. Cognitive and functional impairment is a rather heterogeneous condition which may be associated with various clinical conditions found in the elderly population. Due to its high prevalence and association with higher mortality and disability rates, this clinical syndrome should receive more attention on public health intervention planning.
Lopes
Marcos A
MA
Hospital of Clinics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil. lopes@netsite.com.br
Hototian
Sergio R
SR
Bustamante
Sonia E Z
SE
Azevedo
Dionísio
D
Tatsch
Mariana
M
Bazzarella
Mário C
MC
Litvoc
Júlio
J
Bottino
Cássio M C
CM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors