Korean J Geriatr Gerontol.  2017 Dec;18(2):74-81. 10.15656/kjcg.2017.18.2.74.

The Relationship between Socioeconomic Vulnerability and Cognitive Impairment among Aged People in Korea

• Park S
• Hwang Y
• Oh B
• Lee J
• Hong S
• Kim S
• Kim D

• KMID: 2566475
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15656/kjcg.2017.18.2.74

Abstract

Background
The relationship between socioeconomic status and cognitive dysfunction is still unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between cognitive impairment and socioeconomic vulnerability on elderly people in Korea by Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging (KLoSA).
Methods
Authors collected data from Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging (KLoSA). Cognitive function was assessed by the Korean version of the mini-mental state examination-Korea (MMSE-K). And, the authors created the socioeconomic vulnerability (SEV) score, consisted of 6 items. Those 6 items are education level, house income, social engagement score, self-related economic satisfaction percentage, private insurance and residence.
Results
A total of 4,044 participants were included and 2,045 subjects were classified as cognitive impaired whose MMSE is lower than 23. SEV score was significantly different between normal and cognitive impairment group. Authors divided four SEV groups by SEV severity. Increased SEV score was significantly correlated with cognitive impairment group (Odds ratio SEV Q2: 2.84, Q3: 5.69 and Q4:10.67). In addition, diabetes mellitus (1.29, 1.06∼1.61), depression (1.23, 1.04∼ 1.46), function (ADL: 2.48, 1.61∼3.82, IADL: 1.95, 1.54∼2.47) also correlated with cognitive impairment.
Conclusion
Socioeconomic vulnerability was strongly correlated with cognitive impairment. Depression, diabetes and independent functionality (ADL, IADL) were also significant correlated with cognitive impairment.

Keyword

Cognitive impairment; Socioeconomic vulnerability; Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging (KLoSA)