Evaluation of cognitive status of the elderly in Tabriz using Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT)

Abstract

Cognitive impairment is a major and unknown problem in old age. Research on cognitive impairment is very limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the cognitive status of the elderly in Tabriz using a shortened cognitive test. Materials and Methods: This study is a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study performed on the elderly living in Tabriz in 2021. 516 samples were used to obtain a representative sample of the population based on the general population and housing census of Tabriz in 2016 and the 18% prevalence of cognitive disorders (Rasht study). Sampling was a multi-stage cluster. For this purpose, first 14 health centers were systematically selected from 55 health centers in Tabriz, then in proportion to the size of the elderly population (over 60 years) covered by each center, the number of samples from each center was determined. To select the number of samples in each center, from the blocks covered by the center, first three blocks were randomly selected and then from each block according to the elderly population of each block, the sample size of the center was selected. The cognition of the selected elderly centers was completed in the place of health centers in a quiet and convenient place. To analyze the data, SPSS software and descriptive tests (mean, percentage and standard deviation) and inferential tests of ANOVA and Chi-square were used. findings: The results showed that 42. 25% of the statistical population have cognitive impairment. The prevalence of cognitive impairment in women is 66. 6% and in men is 24. 3%. In other words, the prevalence of cognitive impairment is higher in women than men. Cognitive impairment was not significantly different in terms of age (p = 0. 56). But there was a statistically significant difference between cognitive impairment and gender (p = 0. 000). There was a statistically significant difference between cognitive impairment and marital status (p = 0. 000). The percentage of cognitive impairment in married people is higher than non-married people (p = 0. 000). Cognitive impairment was significantly associated with education in illiterate people with primary education was higher than educated people (p = 0. 000). Conclusion: 42. 25% of the elderly had cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment screening, especially in women, with low education and unmarried elderly can lead to early diagnosis and prevention of the progression of the disorder.