Exploring the Relationship between Balance and Cognition in Middle-Aged Individuals with Diabetes and Hypertension: A Cross-sectional Study

Sanjiv Kumar; Jeba Chitra; Jorida Fernandes; Ankita Shetty; Apoorva Nale; Christina Mary George; Neha Yadav

Sanjiv Kumar Professor, KLE Institute of Physiotherapy, Nehru Nagar, Belagavi, India.
Jeba Chitra Professor, KLE Institute of Physiotherapy, Nehru Nagar, Belagavi, India.
Jorida Fernandes Assistant Professor, KLE Institute of Physiotherapy, Nehru Nagar, Belagavi, India.
Ankita Shetty Postgraduate Student, KLE Institute of Physiotherapy, Nehru Nagar, Belagavi, India.
Apoorva Nale Postgraduate Student, KLE Institute of Physiotherapy, Nehru Nagar, Belagavi, India.
Christina Mary George Postgraduate Student, KLE Institute of Physiotherapy, Nehru Nagar, Belagavi, India.
Neha Yadav Postgraduate Student, KLE Institute of Physiotherapy, Nehru Nagar, Belagavi, India.

Keywords: Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Balance, Cognition, MoCA, Berg Balance Scale

Abstract

Background: Diabetes and hypertension are commonly occurring non-communicable
diseases across the world. India is known as the diabetes
capital of the world since more than 62 million individuals are presently
suffering from diabetes. The risk of dementia increases in individuals
with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Similarly, in individuals with
hypertension (HTN), there is an increased risk of balance impairment
due to reduced sensory inputs from peripheral nerves to the CNS. This
study has been taken up to evaluate the correlation between balance
and cognition in the adult Indian population suffering from diabetes
and hypertension using the Berg Balance and Montreal Cognitive
Assessment scale.
Method: Two hundred and ninety-eight middle-aged individuals were
screened for hypertension and/ or diabetes mellitus for this crosssectional
study. Each subject was assessed for balance and cognition
using the Berg Balance Scale and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale
respectively. The data that were obtained were tabulated and analysed.
Result: The Pearson correlation analysis suggested a negative correlation
between diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and cognition (r = -0.267; p =
0.020) indicating that higher DBP causes cognition to deteriorate in
hypertensive patients. It was seen that an increase in systolic blood
pressure correlated with a decline in cognitive ability among diabetic
people.
Conclusion: Hypertension with increased diastolic pressure results
in detrimental cognitive decline. No correlation was found between
systolic blood pressure (SBP), DBP and balance. An increase in the
glycaemic level affects cognitive ability and increases the risk of falls.

How to cite this article:
Kumar S, Chitra J, Fernandes J, Shetty A, Nale A,
George CM, Yadav N. Exploring the Relationship
between Balance and Cognition in Middle-Aged
Individuals with Diabetes and Hypertension: A
Cross-sectional Study. Chettinad Health City Med
J. 2023;12(3):56-61.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2278.2044.202352

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