The relationship between the status of hypertension and lifestyle risk factors in middle-aged and elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment: a case-control study

Abstract

BACKGROUND In epidemiological studies, hypertension is related to the difference in the incidence of cognitive impairment, but the evidence is currently inconsistent regarding the association of disease duration, treatment, control, and life risk factors with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in patients with hypertension. METHODS We selected 572 patients with hypertension treated in six medical centers in Nanjing from 2017 to 2020. The cognitive function of participants was assessed using MoCA. Potential risk factors were investigated by a structured questionnaire. Risk factors associated with the conversion of MCI occurring in hypertension were analyzed using multifactorial regression analysis. RESULTS MCI was observed in 256 of 572 individuals. MCI was more likely with increasing age (OR=1.15, 95%CI 1.10-1.20), and high education was better at preventing MCI (OR=0.47, 95%CI 0.32-0.71) among baseline clinical characteristics. 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). Controlling blood pressure to target values helped prevent MCI(OR=0.44, 95%CI 0.30-0.65), and these results were similar when stratified by age. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that it is necessary to popularize hypertension knowledge and a healthy lifestyle, and optimize treatment to achieve the goal of preventing cognitive decline in the middle-aged and elderly.