Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
Volume 86, Issue 3 , Pages 208-212, December 2009

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

  • H. Thabit

      Affiliations

    • Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Ireland
  • ,
  • S.M. Kennelly

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland
  • ,
  • A. Bhagarva

      Affiliations

    • Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Ireland
  • ,
  • M. Ogunlewe

      Affiliations

    • Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Ireland
  • ,
  • P.M.E. McCormack

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland
  • ,
  • J.H. McDermott

      Affiliations

    • Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Ireland
  • ,
  • S. Sreenan

      Affiliations

    • Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Ireland
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +353 1 6465584; fax: +353 1 6465310.

Received 16 June 2008; received in revised form 20 April 2009; accepted 7 September 2009. published online 28 September 2009.

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±1.7mM, 4.0±0.9mM and 2.1±0.7mM 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.

Abbreviations: T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus, EF, executive function, ED, executive dysfunction, CI, cognitive impairment, EXIT25, Executive Interview 25, FAB, Frontal Assessment Battery, SDSCA, Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities

Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Cognitive function, Executive function, Diabetes self-care

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PII: S0168-8227(09)00375-1

doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2009.09.004

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
Volume 86, Issue 3 , Pages 208-212, December 2009