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. 2020 Nov 16;20(1):470.
doi: 10.1186/s12877-020-01863-7.

Prevalence and incidence of cognitive impairment in an elder Portuguese population (65-85 years old)

Ricardo Pais  1   2   3 , Luís Ruano  4   5   6 , Carla Moreira  4   5 , Ofélia P Carvalho  4   5 , Henrique Barros  4   5
Affiliations

Prevalence and incidence of cognitive impairment in an elder Portuguese population (65-85 years old)

Ricardo Pais et al. BMC Geriatr. .

Abstract

Background: The increase in average life expectancy increases the risk of illness and frailty in the elderly, especially in the cognitive arena. This study has the objective to estimate the prevalence and incidence of cognitive impairment, in a representative sample of 65 to 85 years old followed for a mean period of 6-years.

Methods: Subjects aged 65-85 years (n = 586) were screened at baseline (1999-2004) to estimate the prevalence of cognitive impairment using the Mini-Mental State Examination. A total of 287 individuals with a normal MMSE at baseline were reassessed after 6.2 mean years (± 4.30 years) to evaluate the incidence of cognitive impairment, defined as scoring below the age and education-adjusted MMSE cut-off points adapted for the Portuguese population. We did not exclude Dementia.

Results: The baseline prevalence of cognitive impairment was 15.5% (95% CI: 12.7-18.7). Higher in women (18.9%; 95% CI: 14.9-23.3), that in men (10.4%; 95% CI: 6.7-15.1). Increased with age and was highest for participants without any schooling. The overall incidence rate was 26.97 per 1000 person-years; higher in women (33.8 per 1000 person-years) than in men (18.0 per 1000 person-years). Higher for the oldest participants and those with no schooling. Taking the standard European population, we estimated a prevalence of 16.5% and an incidence of 34.4 per 1000 person-years.

Conclusion: The prevalence of cognitive impairment in Portugal is within the estimated interval for the European population, and the incidence is lower than for the majority of the European countries. Women, senior and elders without education have a higher risk of cognitive impairment. In our sample, neither employment nor marital status has a significant effect on cognitive impairment.

Keywords: Cognitive impairment; EPIPorto; Incidence; Population-based cohort; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing of interest and certify responsibility for the manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow-chart of participants through the steps of the study and final results on the frequency of cognitive impairment
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Cumulative incidence functions. The solid line shows the cumulative incidence of cognitive impairment. The dotted line shows the competing risk event, i.e. death occurring prior to the cognitive impairment. The dashed line shows the cumulative incidence function of all-cause failure, i.e. the sum of the cumulative incidences of the 2 cause-specific failures
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Cumulative incidence functions by sex. Left panel: The solid line shows the cumulative incidence of cognitive impairment, for women. Right panel: The dotted line shows the competing risk event, i.e. death occurring prior to the cognitive impairment, for Men
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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