Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AMONG TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS IN A SECONDARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Jerushah Jose, Karthika Krishna B., Soorya Soma, Rini Susan Varghese* and Purnima Ashok

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is extensively accepted worldwide as an epidemic associated with micro and macro-vascular complication. Various studies have proposed a relation between diabetes declining cognitive function. Cognitive dysfunction as important complication of diabetes needs to be recognized by healthcare providers and screening for the same be recommended. Objective: The study examined the cognitive status of diabetes and non-diabetes with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test (MoCA). Method: A matched case-control study was undertaken in the inpatient department of general medicine in a teaching hospital for a period of 6 months. The study group included forty-five participants with and without diabetes and cognitive assessment was done using MoCA test. Result: 53% of the control group had normal cognition whereas only 9% among the case scored above 26 and found to have normal cognition. Among the forty-five study subjects included as the cases, 56% scored less than 18 and was thus identified to have dementia and Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was found in 36%. Conclusion: Diabetes patient were found to have cognitive decline when compared to non- diabetes. It is important to include cognitive status assessment among diabetes patients as part of their routine follow up for early identification of cognitive impairment.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus (DM), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA).