Dementia prevalence study in older adults of the community of Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica.

Abstract

Background: Low and middle income countries are experiencing growth rates of population aging, as well as the incidence of people with cognitive impairment. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cognitive impairment or dementia, and the frequency of associated factors in older adults in the canton of Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica. Methodology: A descriptive study of prevalence, in adults older than 65 years in the aforementioned community was carried out. A sample of 101 older adults identified by the "knocking on doors" strategy was selected (house by house, detecting those where at least one older adult resided). The protocol developed by the Group 10/66 Dementia Research Group of the International Alzheimer's Association was used, which has six questionnaires, namely: 1. Interview about the home, 2. Sociodemographic and risk factors interview , 3. Clinical interview, 4. Cognitive test battery, 5. Physical and neurological examination and 6. Interview with the informant (in cases where there is a companion). We calculated prevalence of cognitive impairment and frequency of some factors associated with the risk of dementia. Results: The average performance in the tests was 32.62 points (DS: 5.99, range: 10-43). 60.4% of the participants were below this 50th percentile (34 points), a cutoff point that determines some degree of cognitive impairment. Significant figures of smoking habit were found at some point in life and alcohol consumption; the presence of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and evidence of damage such as heart disease in 20% of cases; In the same way, 20% of the cases reported a history of dementia in family members and problems that affect their daily life. Finally, significant changes in cognitive ability and perception of memory problems could be established in verbal fluency tests in about 45% of the inhabitants. Conclusions: The study showed dementia prevalence figures similar to those reported by other similar studies worldwide. This reflects the need to focus on public health risk reduction strategies as well as the urgency to activate actions of the Alzheimer Plan of Costa Rica.