Prevalence/potential risk factors for motoric cognitive risk and its relationship to falls in elderly Chinese people: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) is characterized by slow walking speed and subjective memory complaints (SMCs). This study investigated the prevalence and potential risk factors of MCR and its association with falls in Chinese community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

The analysis was based on data from the Rugao Longevity and Aging Study (RuLAS). MCR was defined as the presence of both SMCs and slow walking speed in participants free of major neurocognitive disorders. SMCs were determined according to a positive answer to the question 'Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most?' in the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Slow walking speed was defined as one standard deviation or more below the mean value for patients' age and sex. Data on falls were derived from a standardized questionnaire.

RESULTS

The prevalence of SMCs, slow walking speed and MCR in the RuLAS cohort (N = 1592) was 51.9%, 15.6% and 8.3%, respectively. After adjusting for other covariates, an occupation of farming (odds ratio [OR] 2.358, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.007-5.521, p = 0.048), history of cerebrovascular disease (OR 2.215, 95% CI 1.032-4.752, p = 0.041) and hospitalization (OR 2.008, 95% CI 1.120-3.602, p = 0.019) were risk factors for MCR. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that the risk of falls was increased by MCR (OR 1.547, 95% CI 1.009-2.371), SMC (OR 1.308, 95% CI 1.003-1.707) and slow walking speed (OR 1.442, 95% CI 1.030-2.017).

CONCLUSIONS

Early identification of potential risk factors of MCR can prevent the occurrence of adverse health events such as falls in the elderly.