title: Association between mild cognitive impairment and dementia and undernutrition among elderly people in Central Africa: some results from the EPIDEMCA (Epidemiology of Dementia in Central Africa) programme.
abstract: Several studies in Western countries have shown an association between cognitive disorders and low BMI or weight loss in elderly people. However, few data are available in Africa. We analysed the association between cognitive disorders and undernutrition among elderly people in Central Africa. A cross-sectional, multicentre, population-based study using a two-phase design was carried out in subjects aged 65 years and above in the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Republic of Congo (ROC). All subjects were interviewed using the Community Screening Interview for Dementia, and those with low performance were clinically assessed by a neurologist and underwent further psychometrical tests. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV and Petersen's criteria were required for the diagnoses of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), respectively. Undernutrition was evaluated using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) < 24 cm, BMI < 18.5 kg/m(2) and arm muscular circumference (AMC) < 5th percentile. Multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations. In CAR, MCI was associated with MUAC < 24 cm (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.4, 1.0) and dementia with BMI < 18.5 kg/m(2) (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.6, 3.1), AMC < 5th percentile (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1, 4.6) and MUAC < 24 cm (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4, 2.4). In ROC, both MCI and dementia were associated with all markers of undernutrition, but only AMC < 5th percentile was significantly associated with MCI (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.9, 4.8). In conclusion, cognitive disorders were associated with undernutrition. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between MCI and undernutrition in CAR.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pilleron
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jésus
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Desport
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mbelesso
authors.forename: Bébène
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ndamba-Bandzouzi
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Clément
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dartigues
authors.forename: Pierre-Marie
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Preux
authors.forename: Maëlenn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guerchet
authors.forename: Maëlenn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guerchet
authors.forename: Bébène
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ndamba-Bandzouzi
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mbelesso
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pilleron
authors.forename: Iléana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Désormais
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lacroix
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aboyans
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Desport
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jésus
authors.forename: Achille
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tchalla
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Clément
authors.forename: Jean-Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dartigues
authors.forename: Pierre-Marie
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Preux
mesh_terms: D000350:Africa, Central / Q000453:epidemiology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity