A clinical study on cognitive impairment in post⁃ischemic stroke patients with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Objective To explore the relation between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke. Methods Ninety ⁃ four cases of first ischemic stroke patients were divided into stroke without MetS group (n = 54) and stroke with MetS group (n = 40) according to the diagnostic criteria for MetS defined by Metabolic Syndrome Researching Group of Chinese Diabetes Society. All patients underwent Mini⁃Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clock Drawing Test (CDT), animal Verbal Fluency Test (aVFT), Trial Making Test⁃A (TMT⁃A) at 2 weeks and 3 months after stroke to evaluate mental state such as verbal learning memory, and executive, attentional and visuospatial abilities. The incidence and development of cognitive impairment were also assessed. Results At 2 weeks and 3 months after stroke, the incidence of cognitive impairment were 24.47% (23/94) and 22.34% (21/94), respectively, and in the cognitive impairment patients the incidence of non⁃dementia were 21.28% (20/94) and 19.15% (18/94), while the incidence of dementia were 3.19% (3/94) and 3.19% (3/94), respectively. The incidence of cognitive impairment was higher in the stroke patients with MetS than the stroke patients without MetS, 37.50% (15/40) vs 14.81% (8/54) (Z = 2.500, P = 0.012) at 2 weeks after stroke and 35.00% (14/40) vs 12.96% (7/54) (Z = 2.513, P = 0.012) at 3 months after stroke. In the scores of MMSE, delay recall and CDT of the stroke patients with MetS were all lower than those without MetS at 2 weeks after stroke and at 3 months after stroke (P < 0.05, for all). The stroke patients with MetS had more cognition deterioration than the stroke patients without MetS at 3 months after stroke, the difference was significant (Z = 2.134, P = 0.033). Conclusion MetS can increase the incidence of cognitive impairment, especially non⁃dementia cognitive impairment in post ischemic stroke. Executive dysfunction and hypomnesis are often seen. The development of cognitive impairment in stroke patients with MetS tends to deterioration.

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2012.01.015