Social patterning of cognitive impairment in Colombia: evidence from the SABE 2015 study

Dementia, an increasingly critical public health concern in low and middle-income countries, is associated with lower socioeconomic status, early cognitive impairment, and elevated dementia-related mortality risk. This study seeks to estimate the prevalence of cognitive impairment, investigate its links with social indicators, and visualize social gradients across different regions in Colombia.

Secondary data analysis from the SABE 2015 survey, multinomial regression analyses, and equiplot graphs.

A sample of 23,694 individuals 60 years or older from Colombia. Higher risks were observed among individuals with dark skin color (OR 1.27; 95%CI: 1.10 – 1.47), lower educational levels (OR 3.01; 95%CI:2.04 – 4.42) and reading illiteracy (OR 2.14; 95%CI: 1.87 – 2.46). Inequity patterns were identified by region of residence and income.

This study underscores the need for targeted interventions aimed at reducing health inequities. The results highlight the higher prevalence rates of cognitive impairment among socially disadvantaged individuals.