Exploring the Relationship between Balance and Cognition in Middle-Aged Individuals with Diabetes and Hypertension: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Diabetes and hypertension are commonly occurring noncommunicable diseases across the world. India is known as the diabetes capital of the world since more than 62 million individuals are presently suffering from diabetes. The risk of dementia increases in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Similarly, in individuals with hypertension (HTN), there is an increased risk of balance impairment due to reduced sensory inputs from peripheral nerves to the CNS. This study has been taken up to evaluate the correlation between balance and cognition in the adult Indian population suffering from diabetes and hypertension using the Berg Balance and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale.Method: Two hundred and ninety-eight middle-aged individuals were screened for hypertension and/ or diabetes mellitus for this crosssectional study. Each subject was assessed for balance and cognition using the Berg Balance Scale and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale respectively. The data that were obtained were tabulated and analysed. Result:The Pearson correlation analysis suggested a negative correlation between diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and cognition (r = -0.267; p = 0.020) indicating that higher DBP causes cognition to deteriorate in hypertensive patients. It was seen that an increase in systolic blood pressure correlated with a decline in cognitive ability among diabetic people. Conclusion:Hypertension with increased diastolic pressure results in detrimental cognitive decline. No correlation was found between systolic blood pressure (SBP), DBP and balance. An increase in the glycaemic level affects cognitive ability and increases the risk of falls.