Association between the occurrence of albuminuria and the risk of early dementia among older people upon health examination: a community-based cohort study in Taiwan

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the associations between biochemical markers, renal function, health behaviours and dementia among older people.DesignA retrospective cohort study.SettingCommunity-based health examination database from Taipei city.ParticipantsIn total, 35 434 older people were included from February 2005 to December 2012. To assess changes in renal function, we selected participants who attended health examinations at least twice and responded to the AD8 questionnaire in 2012. We excluded those with dementia at baseline.Primary outcome measuresEarly dementia was assessed using the AD8 questionnaire in 2012. Explanatory variables included demographic factors, health behaviours, biochemical markers and renal function. We used a Cox proportional hazard model to estimate the HR for early dementia onset.ResultsIndividuals with mild albuminuria (HR 1.228; 95% CI 1.066 to 1.414), lower eGFR (HR 1.549; 95% CI 1.319 to 1.820) and higher age (HR 1.022; 95% CI 1.015 to 1.028) were associated with a high risk of early dementia. Older people with no alcohol intake (HR 0.872; 95% CI 0.794 to 0.958), and higher education levels (HR 0.647; 95% CI 0.589 to 0.710) were at a low risk of early dementia.ConclusionsElevated mild albuminuria and low eGFR were associated with a high risk of early dementia in this community-based cohort. Routine health examinations for older people can help screen out the high-risk population, and clinical management might reduce or delay the risk of early dementia.

Albuminuria as a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment and dementia—what is the evidence?

“…This also concerns the evidence correlating low eGFR with overt dementia. Thus, in a retrospective community-based cohort study on geriatric patients, increased albuminuria and low eGFR have been suggested as risk factors for dementia [ 27 ]. However, the large-scale population Helseundersøkelsen i Nord-Trøndelag study did not reveal a significant association between isolated low eGFR and dementia [ 28 ].…”