Utilization of Frontal Assessment Battery and Executive Interview 25 in assessing for dysexecutive syndrome and its association with diabetes self-care in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Diabetes research and clinical practice Vol. 86; no. 3; pp. 208 - 212
• Main Authors: Thabit, H, Kennelly, S.M, Bhagarva, A, Ogunlewe, M, McCormack, P.M.E, McDermott, J.H, Sreenan, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.12.2009
• Subjects: Age of Onset; Aged; Blood Glucose - analysis; Blood Pressure; Body Mass Index; Cognition; Cognition Disorders - epidemiology; Cognition Disorders - psychology; Cognitive function; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - psychology; Diabetes self-care; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Executive function; Executive Function - physiology; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Glycated Hemoglobin A - analysis; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Lipids - blood; Middle Aged; MMPI; Self Care; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; T2DM; EF; CI; FAB; Diabetes self-care; Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities; SDSCA; executive dysfunction; Frontal Assessment Battery; type 2 diabetes mellitus; EXIT25; cognitive impairment; Cognitive function; executive function; ED; Executive Interview 25; Executive function; Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 0168-8227; 1872-8227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2009.09.004

Abstract Aims Executive function (EF) comprises a set of cognitive skills that controls the execution of complex activities. In the context of diabetes, this may include patients’ self-monitoring and daily management of their condition. We compared two different measures of EF in a population of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and studied its relationship with diabetes self-care. Methods Fifty patients (34 males) had EF assessed using Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and Executive Interview 25 (EXIT25). Diabetes self-care was assessed using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) scale. Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), lipid levels, blood pressure and diabetes duration were recorded. Results The mean age of the patients was 67.0 ± 7.5 years and mean duration of diabetes was 8.1 ± 6.4 years. Mean HbA1c was 7.0 ± 1.2%, and mean fasting plasma glucose, cholesterol and LDL-C were 7.0 ± 1.7 mM, 4.0 ± 0.9 mM and 2.1 ± 0.7 mM respectively. Mean EXIT25 score was 9.5 ± 4.6 in the range of normal EF (14% had EXIT25 score > 15, indicating impaired EF). Mean FAB score was 13.7 ± 3.3 (48% having scores < 15, indicating impaired EF), suggesting a degree of dysexecutive syndrome involving frontal lobe functions. EXIT25 score was inversely correlated with SDSCA ( r = −0.3, p < 0.05) but no significant correlation between FAB and SDSCA or HbA1c, diabetes duration, lipid levels and blood pressure with EXIT25, FAB or SDCSA was found. Conclusion A substantial proportion of elderly patients with T2DM may have dysexecutive syndrome and impairment in EF may impact on self-care in this group.