Cognitive impairment and level of functional disability in patients with history of cerebral vascular event, in the UMF 62

Abstract

Introduction: In Mexico, cerebrovascular disease affects 118 individuals per 100,000 inhabitants per year, making it the second leading cause of death and the primary cause of disability in Latin American countries. Therefore, my objective is to estimate the association between cognitive impairment and the level of disability in patients with a history of cerebrovascular events.

Methods: An observational, analytical, cross-sectional, and prospective study was conducted on a sample of 115 patients selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling, which was non-randomized. Patients diagnosed with cerebrovascular disease, affiliated with UMF 62, of both sexes, who had provided informed consent, were included. A descriptive analysis of qualitative and quantitative variables was performed, along with an inferential analysis of cognitive impairment and functional disability variables using the Mann-Whitney U test, with a significance level set at p=<0.05.

Results: The presence of cognitive impairment resulted in a low level of physical dependence in 27.8% (32 patients), moderate in 18.3% (21 patients), severe in 3.5% (4 patients), and total in 6.1% (7 patients), compared to subjects without cognitive impairment in patients with a history of cerebrovascular disease. Additionally, 2.6% (3 patients) showed independence.

Conclusions: It was concluded that the presence of diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension are associated with a higher risk of presenting a degree of physical dependence secondary to cerebrovascular disease associated with cognitive impairment.