Motoric cognitive risk syndrome in older individuals in the community with diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in the amazonian context

Abstract

Introduction: The Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome (MCR) characterized by decreased gait speed associated with subjective cognitive complaints, is an important method of early identification of the development of dementia, and therefore an important tool for use in the context of primary health care in a population susceptible to this risk as community elderly individuals diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) who live in the interior and capital of the state of Amazonas. Objective: To identify the presence and possible factors of exposure to SRCM in older adults diagnosed with DM in the Amazonian context. Methodology: 258 elderly people from the interior and capital of the state of Amazonas were evaluated for the presence of SRCM and possible exposure factors such as living in the interior or in the capital of the state, practice of weekly physical activity, gender, level of education, time of diabetes, body mass index and marital status. Results: The prevalence of SRCM found in the total sample of this study was 42.6%, with similar proportions between the interior (43.45%) and the capital (41.11%). The only interaction factor that identified the highest risk for SRCM was high education. Discussion: The prevalence found in this population of the Amazonian context was higher than in other studies, it is suggested that the heterogeneity of the evaluations of subjective cognitive complaint and reduction of gait speed in previous articles may imply the different prevalence found worldwide. High educational levels may have been associated with a higher risk of SRCM, as it may be related to the presence of depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction. Conclusion: The prevalence found was higher in this context compared to previous studies conducted worldwide and the only exposure factor found to be a higher risk for MCR was high education level. Keywords: dementia; chronic disease; health of the elderly; cognitive dysfunction; walking speed.