Prevalence and risk factors of memory disorders among elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of memory disorder among elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)and to provide basis for the improvement of memory function of the patients.Methods Form December 2009 to December 2010,138 COPD patients aged 60-80 years were selected with cluster sampling and surveyed with Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test-Second Edition(RBMT-Ⅱ)for their memory function.Results All the patients had memory impairment.The results of univariate analyses showed that the relevant factors of memory impairment were age(χ²=50.164,P=0.000),education level(χ²=55.771,P=0.000),living conditions(χ²=9.877,P=0.043),smoking(χ²=11.683,P=0.003),alcohol drinking(χ²=7.689,P=0.021),physical exercise(χ²=12.633,P=0.013),time of oxygen inhalation every day(χ²=31.728,P=0.000),duration of the disease(χ²=39.927,P=0.004),use of hormones(χ²=6.248,P=0.044),aerosol inhalation(χ²=21.027,P=0.000),the impairment degree of lung function(χ²=13.072、P=0.011),and partial pressure of carbon dioxide(χ²=25.355,P=0.000).Multi-variable regression analyses showed that education level(t=-6.234,P=0.000),living conditions(t=-2.352,P=0.020),duration of the disease(t=-3.929,P=0.000),alcohol drinking(t=-3.073,P=0.003),daily oxygen inhalation time(t=2.905,P=0.004),pulmonary function(t=2.687,P=0.008),and partial pressure of carbon dioxide(t=-1.987,P=0.002)were significat factors related to memory impairment among the elderly patients.Conclusion The incidence of memory impairment in elderly patients with COPD is high and relates to complex factors.