Assessment of Cognitive Status and Factors Related to It in the Elderly of Sabzevar City in 2022

Daily activities and social functions of the elderly are affected with the progress of their cognitive changes. The purpose of this study was to determine the cognitive status and factors related to it in the elderly of Sabzevar city.

This is a descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Sabzevar city in 2022. In this research, 350 elderlies over 60 years in a cluster method were entered to study from urban health centers. To collect information, demographic, geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) and Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE) were used. Data analysis were done using descriptive statistic (mean, standard deviation, and frequency distribution tables) and inferential statistic (multiple logistic regression test).

The mean of the age was 66.85±6.64 with a minimum 60 and a maximum age of 88 year. The results showed that 75% of the elderly had normal cognitive status and 25% had cognitive impairment. By using the multiple logistic regression, age (OR = 1.07, p = 0.003), marital status (OR = 3.01, p = 0.03), number of children (OR = 1.24, p = 0.02) type of residence (OR=4.09, p>0.001), occupation (OR=3.09, p=0.04), body mass index (OR=0.9, p=0.006)), diet (OR = 5.55, p = 0.01) and depression (OR = 2.92, p = 0.03) had a statistically significant relationship with cognitive status.

Due to the frequency of cognitive disorders in the elderly it is suggested that health care providers perform cognitive screening in the elderly in order to prevent the development of cognitive impairment in this vulnerable group.