Do Communication Patterns Affect the Association between Cognitive Impairment and Hearing Loss among Older Adults in Vietnam?

Tran Dai Tri Han, Keiko Nakamura, Kaoruko Seino, Vo Nu Hong Duc and Thang Van Vo
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Tran Dai Tri Han: Department of Global Health Entrepreneurship, Division of Public Health, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
Keiko Nakamura: Department of Global Health Entrepreneurship, Division of Public Health, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
Kaoruko Seino: Department of Global Health Entrepreneurship, Division of Public Health, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
Vo Nu Hong Duc: Faculty of Public Health, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam
Thang Van Vo: Faculty of Public Health, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: This study examined the prevalence of cognitive impairment among older adults in central Vietnam and the roles of communication (with or without communication devices) in the association between cognitive impairment and hearing loss. This cross-sectional study was performed on 725 randomly selected community-dwelling older adults aged ?60 years from Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam. Participants attended a face-to-face survey. Sociodemographic characteristics, social interaction with or without communication devices, health status and cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination were reported. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed to quantify the association between hearing loss and cognitive function by frequency of communication with and without devices. Mild and severe cognitive impairment had prevalence rates of 23.6% and 19.3%, respectively. Cognitive impairment was more prevalent among older adults with hearing-loss, vision loss and difficulties with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). The association between hearing loss and cognitive impairment was not significant when older adults had frequent communication with others using devices. This study presented the relatively high prevalence of cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults in Vietnam. Frequent communication using devices attenuated the association between hearing loss and cognitive impairment.

Keywords: communication tools; cognitive impairment; older adults; hearing loss; social interaction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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