title: A Review of Risk Factors for Cognitive Impairment in Stroke Survivors.
abstract: In this review, we aimed to identify the risk factors that may influence cognitive impairment among stroke survivors, namely, demographic, clinical, psychological, and physical determinants. A search from Medline, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science databases was conducted for papers published from year 2004 to 2015 related to risk factors of cognitive impairment among adult stroke survivors. A total of 1931 articles were retrieved, but only 27 articles met the criteria and were reviewed. In more than half of the articles it was found that demographical variables that include age, education level, and history of stroke were significant risk factors of cognitive impairment among stroke survivors. The review also indicated that diabetes mellitus, hypertension, types of stroke and affected region of brain, and stroke characteristics (e.g., size and location of infarctions) were clinical determinants that affected cognitive status. In addition, the presence of emotional disturbances mainly depressive symptoms showed significant effects on cognition. Independent relationships between cognition and functional impairment were also identified as determinants in a few studies. This review provided information on the possible risk factors of cognitive impairment in stroke survivors. This information may be beneficial in the prevention and management strategy of cognitive impairments among stroke survivors.
authors.affiliation: Health Psychology Programme, School of Healthcare Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Center for Neuroscience Services & Research (P3Neuro), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohd Faizal
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mohd Zulkifly
authors.affiliation: Health Psychology Programme, School of Healthcare Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shazli Ezzat
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ghazali
authors.affiliation: Health Psychology Programme, School of Healthcare Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Normah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Che Din
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Programme, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Devinder Kaur Ajit
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Health Psychology Programme, School of Healthcare Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ponnusamy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D017741:Survivors