Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly: a Survey and Analysis of Influencing Factors

Background With the intensifying trend of population aging, cognitive impairment has become one of China's significant public health challenges. The impact of lifestyle on cognitive impairment warrants further exploration. Objective This study aims to ascertain the prevalence of cognitive impairment among the elderly in the Baoshan District of Shanghai and analyze how educational level, economic status, lifestyle, and comorbidities affect cognitive impairment, providing a scientific basis for early prevention and control. Methods From July 2020 to August 2020, a stratified random sampling method was employed to survey 374 residents aged 65 and older in the Dachang Community of Baoshan District, using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Basic Scale (MoCA-B) for cognitive evaluation. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors influencing cognitive impairment among the elderly. Results A total of 374 valid questionnaires were retrieved, with a response rate of 100.0%. The prevalence of cognitive impairment among the suburban elderly population over the age of 65 in Shanghai was 37.7% (141/374). The multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that socializing and chatting (OR=0.574, 95%CI=0.350-0.941) were protective factors against cognitive impairment (P<0.05), while aging (OR=1.568, 95%CI=1.207-2.307), living alone (OR=3.569, 95%CI=1.079-11.807), and daily sedentary time of ≥3 hours (OR=1.944, 95%CI=1.091-3.462) were risk factors (P<0.05) . Conclusion Over one-third of the elderly in the suburban areas of Shanghai suffer from cognitive impairment; advanced age, living alone, and prolonged daily sedentary behavior are significant risk factors that should be closely monitored.