Association between functional performance and executive cognitive functions in an elderly population including patients with low ankle–brachial index

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographic, clinical and functional characterization

Variable	Control (n=40)	ABI (n=26)	P-value
Age
Mean (years)	67.17 (±8.24)	68.57 (±8.34)	0.504a
Range	54–88	53–87
Sex			0.812b
Male	65.4% (n=17)	62.5% (n=25)
Female	34.6% (n=9)	37.5% (n=15)
Education level (years)	12.85 (±5.16)	8.30 (±4.76)	0.001a
Social level			0.029b
A	5% (n=2)	0% (n=0)
B	62.5% (n=25)	30.8% (n=8)
C	17.5% (n=7)	38.5% (n=10)
D	0% (n=0)	7.7% (n=2)
E	0% (n=0)	0% (n=0)
Family income ($ per month)	2491.29 (±1601.77)	1227.35 (±755.62)	0.002a
IQ	111.94 (±8.96)	98.47 (±25.06)	0.007a
BDI	6.79 (±5.23)	12.56 (±9.30)	0.008a
BAI	5.47 (±4.59)	11.48 (±7.23)	0.001a
BMI (kg/m^2)	25.49 (±3.84)	25.81 (±4.65)	0.773a
SBP (mmHg)	134.68 (±20.04)	147.05 (±22.93)	0.099a
DBP (mmHg)	80.50 (±10.85)	80.20 (±12.68)	0.941a
HR (bpm)	66.31 (±13.34)	63.78 (±10.36)	0.533a
ABI	1.08 (±0.07)	0.63 (±0.19)	0.001a
6MWT (m)	394.74 (±88.28)	294.20 (±76.05)	0.001a

Notes:

a General Linear Model;

b chi-squared test. Significant P-values are highlighted in bold.

Abbreviations: IQ, intelligence quotient; BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; BAI, Beck Anxiety Inventory; BMI, body mass index; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; HR, heart rate; ABI, ankle-brachial index; 6MWT, 6-minute walk test.

Table 2 Comparison of ECF performance between groups

Variable	Control (n=40)	ABI (n=26)	Unadjusted	Adjusteda
MMSE	28.55 (±1.46)	27.44 (±1.73)	0.007	0.270
Digit Span
Digit Forward	5.94 (±1.98)	4.80 (±1.19)	0.023	0.062
Digit Backward	5.11 (±1.72)	3.90 (±1.20)	0.008	0.013
SCWT
I	16.11 (±6.35)	18.81 (±6.98)	0.116	0.165
II	22.89 (±8.91)	30.14 (±14.29)	0.015	0.084
III	40.70 (±19.21)	43.00 (±18.18)	0.635	0.949
COWAT
Letters FAS	18.92 (±7.49)	15.53 (±3.55)	0.036	0.005
Animals	35.27 (±15.04)	26.92 (±10.12)	0.016	0.228
ECF factor	−0.08 (±1.07)	0.37 (±0.82)	0.172	0.056

Notes:

a Adjusted for sociodemographic factor, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Significant P-values were highlighted in bold.

Abbreviations: MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; SCWT, Stroop Color Word Test; COWAT, Controlled Oral Word Association Test; ECF, executive cognitive functions; ABI, ankle-brachial index.

Table 3 Adjusted associations between functional performance and ECF

Variable	6MWTa	P-value
MMSE	0.375	0.015
Digit Span
Digit Forward	0.371	0.016
Digit Backward	0.373	0.015
SCWT
I	−0.332	0.032
II	−0.302	0.052
III	−0.352	0.022
COWAT
Letters FAS	0.412	0.007
Animals	0.207	0.189
ECF factor	−0.444	0.003

Notes:

a Adjusted for sociodemographic factor, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Significant P-values were highlighted in bold.

Abbreviations: MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; SCWT, Stroop Color Word Test; COWAT, Controlled Oral Word Association Test; ECF, executive cognitive functions; 6MWT, 6-minute walk test.

Figure 1 Associations between functional performance and ECF.

Notes: (A) 6MWT vs MMSE; (B) 6MWT vs Digit Forward; (C) 6MWT vs Digit Backward; (D) 6MWT vs SCWT I; (E) 6MWT vs SCWT II; (F) 6MWT vs SCWT III; (G) 6MWT vs COWAT – letters FAS; (H) 6MWT vs COWAT – Animals; (I) 6MWT vs ECF factor.
Abbreviations: 6MWT, 6-minute walk test; MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; SCWT, Stroop Color Word Test; COWAT, Controlled Oral Word Association Test; ECF, executive cognitive functions.