Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

İstanbul Üniversitesi, Cerrahpaşa Tıp Fakültesi, İç Hastalıkları ABD, Genel Dahiliye Bilim Dalı
İstanbul Üniversitesi, Cerrahpaşa Tıp Fakültesi, Nöroloji Anabilim Dalı
İstanbul Üniversitesi, Cerrahpaşa Tıp Fakültesi, İç Hastalıkları ABD, Geriatri Bilim Dalı Introduction-Aim: The morbidity and mortality benefits of blood pressure control among the elderly is well documented. But the effects of hypertension control in this population are still under investigation. In this study, we aimed to study the consequences of hypertension on cognitive performance in the elderly.
Material-Method: Seventy-five patients, over the age of 60, who have the minimum five years of education were enrolled in the study. Twenty-five normotensives, twenty-five normalized hypertensives and twenty-five treated but uncontrolled hypertensives constituted the groups. The Mini-Mental state examination (MMSE) was performed to evaluate cognitive function and student t-test was used for statistical analysis.
Results: The MMSE scores of the normalized hypertensive, treated but uncontrolled hypertensive and normotensive groups were as follow: 28,24 ± 1,25; 21,68 ± 3,69 ve 27,76 ± 1,56. There was no difference of age and educational status between these groups. There was no difference of the duration of hypertension between normalized hypertensives and uncontrolled hypertensives. The MMSE scores of the uncontrolled hypertensive group was significantly lower than normalized hypertensive group (p<0,001) and normotensive group (p<0,001). The MMSE scores of the normalized hypertensives and normotensives were not statistically different.
Discussion: Uncontrolled hypertension causes cognitive dysfunction among elderly. The absence of cognitive dysfunction among controlled hypertensives may support the importance of blood pressure control with therapy and follow-up in this age group. Keywords : Hypertension, Elderly, Cognitive function