Insulin resistance is an important risk factor for cognitive impairment in elderly patients with primary hypertension.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Insulin resistance plays a role in the development of dementia and hypertension. We investigated a possible relationship between cognitive impairment and insulin resistance in elderly Chinese patients with primary hypertension.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

One hundred and thirty-two hypertensive elderly patients (>60 years) were enrolled in this study, and assigned into either the cognitive impairment group (n=61) or the normal cognitive group (n=71). Gender, age, education, body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), C-reactive protein (CRP), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), creatinine (Cr), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, smoking history, atherosclerosis and the proportion of uncontrolled hypertension were compared between the two groups. Multi-factorial logistic regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS:

No significant differences were found in gender, age, TC, CRP, HDL-C, LDL-C, Cr, BP, smoking history, atherosclerosis and the proportion of uncontrolled hypertension between the two groups. The cognitive impairment group had lower education levels, and higher BMI, WHR, TG, FPG, FINS, and HOMA-IR levels than the control group. Logistic regression analysis revealed the levels of education, BMI, WHR, and HOMA-IR as independent factors that predict cognitive impairment in patients.

CONCLUSION:

Our study demonstrates that poor education and increased BMI, WHR, and HOMA-IR are independent risk factors for cognitive impairment in elderly patients with hypertension. Insulin resistance plays an important role in the development of cognitive impairment in primary elderly hypertensive patients.

• Authors: Lina Ma, Ming Feng, Yuying Qian, Wei Yang, Jia Liu, Rui Han, Hong Zhu, Yun Li
• Journal: Yonsei medical journal (Yonsei Med J) Vol. 56 Issue 1 Pg. 89-94 (Jan 2015) ISSN: 1976-2437 [Electronic] Korea (South)
• PMID: 25510751 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Aged
• Case-Control Studies
• Cognition Disorders (etiology)
• Essential Hypertension
• Female
• Humans
• Hypertension (complications)
• Insulin Resistance
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Risk Factors