3/2007The usefulness of estimation of cognitive functions with the clock drawing test in evaluation of clinical status of diabetic patients

MAREK DERKACZ (Katedra i Klinika Chorób Wewnętrznych Akademii Medycznej w Lublinie; Kierownik: prof. dr hab. med. Jerzy Łopatyński)

Background
The Clock Drawing Test is a cognition screening tool which can provide huge amounts of information about general cognitive and adaptive functioning such as memory, how people are able to process information and vision. A normal clock drawing almost always predicts that a person’s cognitive abilities are within normal limits.

Material and methods
122 patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes and 140 healthy subjects as a control group were studied.

Results
Worse CDT scores were observed in diabetic patients. Cognitive impairment was observed in 21.3% of them in comparison to 7.1% in control group. Cognitive impairment was associated with worse metabolic control of diabetes. CDT was inversely correlated with HbA1c, suggesting that cognitive dysfunction is associated with poor glycemic control. Average level of HbA1c in group of persons with diabetes and cognitive impairment was 9.47 ± 2.77. People with lower levels of HDL cholesterol and higher levels of LDL cholesterol were more likely to be cognitively impaired.

Key words: cognitive functions, diabetes, Clock Drawing Test