Association between fibrosis‐4 index and cognitive impairment in elderly patients with hypertension: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract The fibrosis‐4 index (FIB‐4) is a noninvasive fibrosis test that is recommended for patients who are at risk of developing hepatic fibrosis. The aim of the study was to explore the correlation between FIB‐4 index and the decline of cognitive function among older patients with hypertension. The study used a cross‐sectional design to analyze data obtained from the NHANES 2011–2014. The significance of the FIB‐4 index correlation with cognitive function in individuals over the age of 60 was evaluated via multivariate regression models. The nonlinear link was described and fitted smoothed curves. There were a total of 2039 participants in the study, and those with a higher FIB‐4 index were more susceptible to developing cognitive decline. In the completely adjusted model, the association remained statistically significant between the FIB‐4 index and poor cognitive function as measured by CERAD: Total Score (OR = 0.72, 0.57−0.91), Animal Fluency Score (OR = 0.66, 0.48−0.91), and Digit Symbol Score (OR = 0.36, 0.17−0.77). A nonlinear association was found between the FIB‐4 and poor cognitive ability: Total Score, CERAD: Score Delayed Recall, Digit Symbol Score, and Animal Fluency Score. In elderly patients with hypertension, a high FIB‐4 index is correlated with an increased prevalence of cognitive decline. Hence, the FIB‐4 index could potentially serve as a valuable tool for determining individuals with hypertension who are susceptible to both liver‐related complications and cognitive impairment.