Background: Epidemiological studies suggest that the incidence of hypertension in China is causally related to cognitive impairment. However, there is a dearth of information available regarding important factors for the association, including disease duration, therapeutic options, and risk factors associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in patients with hypertension.
Methods: We selected a diverse cohort of 572 patients with hypertension and assessed cognitive function using MoCA. Potential risk factors were investigated by a structured questionnaire. Risk factors associated with the hypertension-induced MCI occurring conversion of were analyzed using multifactorial regression analysis.
Results: MCI was observed in 256 of 572 individuals, which increased with age (OR=1.15, 95% CI 1.10– 1.20), but was decreased with high education status (OR=0.47, 95% CI 0.32– 0.71). Risk factors independently associated with MCI were diabetes (OR=2.40, 95% CI 1.53– 3.76), hyperlipidemia (OR=1.49, 95%=1.01– 2.16), high salt diet (OR=2.27, 95% CI 1.34– 3.84), and physical activity:> 2h/week (OR=0.65, 95%0.44– 0.94). However, controlling blood pressure to “normal” target values helped decrease the incidence of MCI (OR=0.44, 95% CI 0.30– 0.65): this was not age dependent.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that it is necessary to promote the education of the middle-aged and elderly Chinese population to correctly and effectively use anti-hypertensives to control hypertension to a normal range to prevent cognitive.
Keywords: hypertension, mild cognitive impairment, control, risk factors