Cognitive and/or Depressive Disorders in the Elderly with Type II Diabetes Mellitus Associated with Hypertension

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a significant public health problem due to its increasing prevalence, being considered a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, thus being an important cause of morbidity and mortality globally. NICE (The UK’s National Institute for Excellence in Health and Care) states that people diagnosed with diabetes (both type 1 and type DZ 2) have a three times higher risk of being diagnosed with depression compared to those who do not have diabetes. Studies on the association of diabetes mellitus in the elderly and neurocognitive disorders have highlighted the increased incidence of dementia in this type of patient, the latter representing a risk factor for the development of strokes. The purpose of the study: to study the presence of neurocognitive dysfunction and the presence of depression in patients who simultaneously present type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and the correlations between clinical-psychiatric indicators (MMSE score and GDS-15 score) and paraclinical indicators (blood glucose level, HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol), as well as blood pressure values at admission, during hospitalization and at discharge. 120 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and HTA were examined, who followed the treatment at the National Institute of Geriartry and Gerontology “Ana Aslan” in Bucharest, registered between April 2021 and April 2022.

Conclusions: According to the data exposed, it can be stated that there is a high probability of the development of cerebral suffering, which can generate cognitive decline of various stages of severity, in decompensated diabetic patients.