Page 69 - BH-3-3

Brain & Heart Dementia and the heart

of disease, a positive response to the Rose angina dementia as a risk factor for CAD, controlling for DM,
questionnaire, and specific abnormalities observed in the sedentary behavior, tobacco use, and alcoholism in both
electrocardiogram, such as Minnesota codes 1-1, 4-1, 5-9, genders. Mean ± standard deviation values were reported
5-2, or 9-2. Confirmation of CAD was established when for continuous variables, while categorical variables were
all three diagnostic criteria were present. Individuals were expressed as percentages. Only p<0.05 were considered
considered to have known CAD if they had a clinical statistically significant, and two-tailed t-tests were used
diagnosis supported by a positive response to Rose where applicable.
angina questionnaire and electrocardiogram findings
such as Q-wave changes (codes 1-1 and 1-2), ST-segment 3. Results
depression or elevation (codes 4-1, 4-2, and 9-2), or The age and gender distribution of the 2,002 participants
T-wave inversions (codes 5-1 and 5-2). The presence of was comparable to the general population’s demographic
these changes in an electrocardiogram, with or without profile. The prevalence of different grades of dementia,
any other clinical indicator for the identification of CAD, along with their medians and ranges, is presented in Table 1.
was also considered relevant for identifying CAD in the Definite memory dysfunction was identified in 4.54% of
participants. the subjects, while Alzheimer’s disease was observed in

All participants provided fasting blood samples, and three individuals (2.19%). Possible memory impairment
each was asked to consume 75 g of anhydrous glucose in was less common than definite memory dysfunction.
200 mL of water. A second blood sample was collected In individuals aged above 64 years, the prevalence of
after 2 h to assess postprandial glucose levels. dementia was markedly higher compared to the younger

2.3. Statistical analysis age group (35.41% [n = 70] vs. 3.70% [n = 67]). The
overall prevalence of CAD was 11.40% (n = 230). Men
This study employed separate linear mixed models with showed a significantly higher prevalence of dementia
random effects to examine the association between than women (8.26% [n = 84] vs. 5.37% [n = 53], p<0.05).
dementia scores and the risk of CAD. The basic-adjusted Among those over 64 years of age, dementia prevalence
model included covariates such as age, gender, BMI, was elevated in both genders, with statistically significant
smoking history, physical activity, cardiovascular risk trends. Similarly, CAD prevalence was significantly higher
factors, and a time variable. Multivariate logistic regression among men compared to women (13.00% vs. 9.90%,
analysis was used to evaluate the significance of associations
between various risk factors and CAD by estimating p<0.05). Alzheimer’s disease was observed in three cases
via computed tomography imaging of the brain.
odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
These analyses were adjusted for age and gender, with the The prevalence of CAD and dementia risk factors
overall dementia score of cognitive deficits representing indicated that tobacco use and excessive alcohol intake
the dependent variable. In addition, linear regression were significantly more common among men than
analysis was conducted to further confirm the role of women. Among women, alcoholism was absent, and
9

Table 1. Distribution of dementia grades and scores by sex
Categories Men (n=1,016) Women (n=986) Total (n=2,002)
Number Median Number Median Number Median
of cases (range) of cases (range) of cases (range)
Occasional memory deficit (score <21) 125 11 (8 – 20) 112 13 (7 – 20) 237 14 (7 – 20)
Possible memory deficit (score 21 – 40) 31 32 (22 – 40) 12 30 (21 – 39) 43 30 (21 – 40)
Definite memory deficit (score 41 – 60) 51 51 (41 – 60) 40 51 (41 – 60) 91 51 (41 – 60)
Alzheimer’s disease (score >60) 2 67 (60 – 71) 1 64 3 65 (60 – 71)
Total subjects 84 34 (11 – 71) 53 26 (11 – 64) 137 31 (11 – 71)
Coronary artery disease (%) 132 13.00 98 9.90 230 11.40
Dementia, 25 – 64 year age group (%) 39 4.31 28 3.10 67 3.70
Dementia, 65 – 85 year age group (%) 45 40.10* 25 29.76 70 35.41
Total cases of dementia (%) 84 8.24* 53 5.37 137 6.84
Notes: Values for coronary artery disease, dementia subgroups, and total cases of dementia are presented as number of cases (%); The Chi-square test
was used to compare male and female groups; * P<0.05.

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 3 doi: 10.36922/bh.8426