Comparison of risk factors for dementia among rural and urban elderly adults-data from two cohort studies in India

Abstract

Introduction: Studies on risk factors for dementia in India, especially rural India, are sparse and therefore we aimed to assess risk factors in a rural cohort on aging and compare it with an urban cohort.

Methods: We are presenting baseline data on proportion of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) scores in both cohorts.

Results: The rural cohort is younger and less educated than the urban cohort. The chi-square test showed that the proportion of participants with hypertension, diabetes, and obesity was lower in the rural cohort, whereas physical inactivity was higher in comparison with the urban cohort; however, the proportion of high-risk CAIDE scores was higher in the rural cohort.

Discussion: Despite the rural cohort having a smaller proportion of participants with hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, the overall CAIDE score was higher-the main reason for this is low educational level.

Keywords: dementia; risk factors; rural India; urban India.