Prevalence and Associated Factors of Dementia in the Elderly at the Geriatric Clinic, Krathumbaen Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To study the prevalence and factors associated with dementia in elderly patients attending the Geriatric Clinic at Krathum Baen Hospital, Samut Sakhon Province.

Method: This study was a cross-sectional study using retrospective medical record data from medical records. The sample group consists of 149 elderly patients who received services between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024, at the Gatum Ban Elderly Clinic, Gatum Ban Hospital. The data collection tools used include a basic information questionnaire, the MMSE-Thai 2002, GLIM criteria, TGDS, and laboratory tests such as HbA1C, LDL-C, HDL-C, Hemoglobin, and Albumin.

Results: The study found that the prevalence of dementia in the sample group was 57.7%. The group with dementia had characteristics such as an average age of 77.9 ± 7.7 years and a high incidence of diabetes and hypertension. Factors associated with dementia included malnutrition (p-value < 0.05) and LDL levels (p-value < 0.05).

Conclusion: This study shows that malnutrition and LDL levels are factors associated with dementia in the elderly. These findings can be used to develop screening systems and care strategies for elderly populations in communities transitioning into an aging society.

Keywords: Dementia, Elderly, Screening, Malnutrition, LDL.