PREVALENCE OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN METABOLIC SYNDROME PATIENTS IN URBAN INDIA

Background: The association between metabolic syndrome and cognitive impairment is not well established. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of cognitive impairment in adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: Cross-sectional observational study conducted in patients with metabolic syndrome (n=185). All patients were subjected to written informed consent, anthropometric measurements, neuropsychological assessments using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). MetS was diagnosed using the definition by the National Cholesterol Education Program- Third Adult Treatment Plan. The main outcome measure was cognitive impairment (<24 on the MMSE scale). Mean, standard deviation and students t-test were used to carry out the analyses. Results: The prevalence of cognitive impairment in MetS patients was 24%. Patients age ranged between 20-75 years and 45% (n= 83) of them were female. MMSE scores were lower in female patients compared to male, however, the difference was not significant (p=0.06). College graduates had significantly higher MMSE scores than patients with just a high school education (p<0.05). Patients with high levels of triglycerides had significantly lower MMSE scores compared to those with borderline high triglycerides (p=0.02). Conclusion: MetS is associated with cognitive impairment, and further longitudinal studies are required to understand the risk of cognitive impairment especially in the elderly population.