[Cognitive impairment and associated factors in older adults in Mexico].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment in the elderly and its relation with sociodemographic and health factors in the Mexican population.


METHODS
From the first wave data of the National Aging and Health Study, collected in 2001 in Mexico, subjects 65 years or older and who had completed a cognitive assessment were selected. Subjects were classified according to two groups: with and without cognitive impairment, based on the cutoff point corresponding to the 10th percentile of the total cognitive assessment score, adjusted for age and educational level. All subjects with cognitive impairment that also had difficulty with one of the activities of daily living were classified as a third group: with cognitive impairment and functional dependency. Prevalence rates were calculated, and an association with demographic and health variables was established through regression analysis.


RESULTS
Seven percent of the population had cognitive impairment while 3.3% had both conditions. The probability of cognitive impairment was not significantly associated with any demographic or health variables. Cognitive impairment and functional dependency indicated an association with gender, age, marital status, diabetes, stroke, heart disease and depression.


CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence of cognitive impairment and its relation with chronic disease frequently observed in the Mexican elderly suggest the need to increase early identification of both conditions in the population.
Mejía-Arango
Silvia
S
Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México. silviamejiaa@hotmail.com
Miguel-Jaimes
Alejandro
A
Villa
Antonio
A
Ruiz-Arregui
Liliana
L
Gutiérrez-Robledo
Luis Miguel
LM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors