Cognitive Risk Stratification Score in Middle-aged and Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: a Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Context: Cognitive impairment (CI) affects approximately 45% of middle-aged and older adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) globally. Although formal comprehensive neuropsychological tests are the gold standard for diagnosing CI, they are often time-intensive and may not be feasible in primary care.

Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a novel Risk Stratification Score (RSS) to rapidly and comprehensively predict CI risk among middle-aged and older adults with T2DM, offering a streamlined alternative in clinical practice.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2023 to February 2024 in a primary care polyclinic in Singapore's western region. Participants aged between 40 and 85 diagnosed with T2DM (n=150) were included in a convenience sampling. The primary outcome was CI status and assessed using formal neuropsychological tests, which including Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Results: CI was identified in 49.3% of participants (n=74). The RSS, incorporating the MoCA, Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), demonstrated excellent discrimination, achieving an area under the ROC curve of 0.802 (p < 0.001). With an optimal cutoff of 0.3, the model showed a sensitivity of 63.5% and specificity of 86.8%, effectively differentiating high- and low-risk CI groups.

Conclusion: RSS in clinical practice, exemplified by the Integrated Metabolic Cognitive Risk Stratification Pathway (imCRSP), is a promising tool for rapid CI risk assessment in primary care. Its robust predictive accuracy and ease of use support its application for early intervention in middle-aged and older adults with T2DM. Future studies should validate its use longitudinally and across diverse populations to enhance generalizability.