{"title":"Mild cognitive impairment and its associated factors amongst the older people attending government health clinics in Kuantan.","authors":"Y Atri Roop, M S E Shalihin, E Mohammad Aidid","doi":"","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Malaysia is undergoing a demographic transition towards an aging population, resulting in an anticipated rise in the number of older individuals at risk of developing dementia. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents an intermediate clinical stage between normal cognition and dementia, characterized by cognitive decline that does not significantly impair daily functional activities. Early detection of MCI is critical, as early-stage interventions and modifications of risk factors can yield promising outcomes.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of MCI and its associated factors among 327 older adults attending healthcare clinics. Data were collected using the Elderly Cognitive Assessment Questionnaire, Geriatric Depression Scale, and Barthel Index. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant factors of MCI.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of MCI in the study population was 18.7%, with the majority demonstrating poor control of comorbid conditions. Significant factors of MCI included being a widower (OR 0.4; 95%CI: 0.18, 0.94), increasing age (OR 0.92; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.97), and having diabetes (OR 3.49; 95% CI: 1.81, 6.73).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings highlight that a significant proportion of older adults are at risk of progressing to dementia but remain underdiagnosed during the early stages. Optimizing blood sugar control emerges as a crucial strategy to mitigate the progression of MCI to irreversible dementia. Implementation of active cognitive screening programs is essential for early identification and timely intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":39388,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","volume":"80 3","pages":"321-327"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Medical Journal of Malaysia","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"Medicine","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Malaysia is undergoing a demographic transition towards an aging population, resulting in an anticipated rise in the number of older individuals at risk of developing dementia. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents an intermediate clinical stage between normal cognition and dementia, characterized by cognitive decline that does not significantly impair daily functional activities. Early detection of MCI is critical, as early-stage interventions and modifications of risk factors can yield promising outcomes.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of MCI and its associated factors among 327 older adults attending healthcare clinics. Data were collected using the Elderly Cognitive Assessment Questionnaire, Geriatric Depression Scale, and Barthel Index. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant factors of MCI.
Results: The prevalence of MCI in the study population was 18.7%, with the majority demonstrating poor control of comorbid conditions. Significant factors of MCI included being a widower (OR 0.4; 95%CI: 0.18, 0.94), increasing age (OR 0.92; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.97), and having diabetes (OR 3.49; 95% CI: 1.81, 6.73).
Conclusion: The findings highlight that a significant proportion of older adults are at risk of progressing to dementia but remain underdiagnosed during the early stages. Optimizing blood sugar control emerges as a crucial strategy to mitigate the progression of MCI to irreversible dementia. Implementation of active cognitive screening programs is essential for early identification and timely intervention.
期刊介绍:
Published since 1890 this journal originated as the Journal of the Straits Medical Association. With the formation of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), the Journal became the official organ, supervised by an editorial board. Some of the early Hon. Editors were Mr. H.M. McGladdery (1960 - 1964), Dr. A.A. Sandosham (1965 - 1977), Prof. Paul C.Y. Chen (1977 - 1987). It is a scientific journal, published quarterly and can be found in medical libraries in many parts of the world. The Journal also enjoys the status of being listed in the Index Medicus, the internationally accepted reference index of medical journals. The editorial columns often reflect the Association''s views and attitudes towards medical problems in the country. The MJM aims to be a peer reviewed scientific journal of the highest quality. We want to ensure that whatever data is published is true and any opinion expressed important to medical science. We believe being Malaysian is our unique niche; our priority will be for scientific knowledge about diseases found in Malaysia and for the practice of medicine in Malaysia. The MJM will archive knowledge about the changing pattern of human diseases and our endeavours to overcome them. It will also document how medicine develops as a profession in the nation. We will communicate and co-operate with other scientific journals in Malaysia. We seek articles that are of educational value to doctors. We will consider all unsolicited articles submitted to the journal and will commission distinguished Malaysians to write relevant review articles. We want to help doctors make better decisions and be good at judging the value of scientific data. We want to help doctors write better, to be articulate and precise.