J Clin Med Res

Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, ISSN 1918-3003 print, 1918-3011 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Clin Med Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://www.jocmr.org

Original Article

Volume 15, Number 4, April 2023, pages 216-224

Predictors of Conversion to Dementia in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Role of Low Body Temperature

**Table 1.** Baseline Characteristics of MCI Converter and MCI Non-Converter Groups
Variables	MCI non-converters (n = 192)	MCI converters (n = 143)	P-value
Percentages are given in the table for categorical variables and, means and standard deviations are given for continuous variable. MCI: mild cognitive impairment; SD: standard deviation; ADL: activities of daily living; IADL: instrumental activities of daily living; MoCA: Montreal cognitive assessment; eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate; TSH: thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Personal, lifestyle, and social characteristics
Age (mean ± SD, range) years	75.7 ± 7.3, 61 - 93	77.4 ± 7.1, 62 - 103	0.04
Sex			0.34
Female	52.4	57.6
Male	47.6	42.4
Current or past smoker	39.3	54.2	0.17
Alcohol intake	42.9	50.7	0.16
Living alone	31.9	29.2	0.59
Family history of dementia	21.1	42.6	< 0.001
Dependent on ≥ 1 ADL	22.3	22.4	0.99
Dependent on ≥ 1 IADL	64.9	73.6	0.09
Clinical characteristics
Abnormal clock drawing	36.2	52.6	0.004
MoCA (mean ± SD)	22.3 ± 3.9	20.8 ± 4.3	0.001
Low temperature (below 36 °C)	2.7	27.7	< 0.001
Polypharmacy (≥ 5 medications)	65.5	49.3	0.003
Sodium ≤ 135 mmol/L	10.5	8.33	0.51
eGFR ≤ 60 mL/min/1.73 m²	31.4	36.1	0.37
TSH (mean ± SD)	2.3 ± 1.9	2.5 ± 2.6	0.38
Taking sedatives	24.6	21.5	0.51
Taking hypothyroidism medication	27.8	33.3	0.27
Taking depression medication	38.2	32.6	0.58
Autonomic factors
Loss of hearing	33.0	32.6	0.95
Orthostatic hypertension	20.9	24.1	0.50
Vascular factors
Overweight/obese	76.2	65.0	0.03
Body mass index (kg/m²) (mean ± SD)	28.9 ± 6.0	26.9 ± 4.7	0.001
Hypertension	60.2	64.6	0.41
Diabetes	25.7	20.8	0.30
Coronary artery disease	17.3	14.6	0.51
Cerebrovascular disease	13.1	13.2	0.98
Other factors
Atrial fibrillation	12.0	10.4	0.64
Heart failure	4.71	3.47	0.58

Table 1. Baseline Characteristics of MCI Converter and MCI Non-Converter Groups

Variables

MCI non-converters (n = 192)

MCI converters (n = 143)

P-value

Percentages are given in the table for categorical variables and, means and standard deviations are given for continuous variable. MCI: mild cognitive impairment; SD: standard deviation; ADL: activities of daily living; IADL: instrumental activities of daily living; MoCA: Montreal cognitive assessment; eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate; TSH: thyroid-stimulating hormone.

Personal, lifestyle, and social characteristics

Age (mean ± SD, range) years

75.7 ± 7.3, 61 - 93

77.4 ± 7.1, 62 - 103

0.04

Sex

0.34

Female

52.4

57.6

Male

47.6

42.4

Current or past smoker

39.3

54.2

0.17

Alcohol intake

42.9

50.7

0.16

Living alone

31.9

29.2

0.59

Family history of dementia

21.1

42.6

< 0.001

Dependent on ≥ 1 ADL

22.3

22.4

0.99

Dependent on ≥ 1 IADL

64.9

73.6

0.09

Clinical characteristics

Abnormal clock drawing

36.2

52.6

0.004

MoCA (mean ± SD)

22.3 ± 3.9

20.8 ± 4.3

0.001

Low temperature (below 36 °C)

2.7

27.7

< 0.001

Polypharmacy (≥ 5 medications)

65.5

49.3

0.003

Sodium ≤ 135 mmol/L

10.5

8.33

0.51

eGFR ≤ 60 mL/min/1.73 m²

31.4

36.1

0.37

TSH (mean ± SD)

2.3 ± 1.9

2.5 ± 2.6

0.38

Taking sedatives

24.6

21.5

0.51

Taking hypothyroidism medication

27.8

33.3

0.27

Taking depression medication

38.2

32.6

0.58

Autonomic factors

Loss of hearing

33.0

32.6

0.95

Orthostatic hypertension

20.9

24.1

0.50

Vascular factors

Overweight/obese

76.2

65.0

0.03

Body mass index (kg/m²) (mean ± SD)

28.9 ± 6.0

26.9 ± 4.7

0.001

Hypertension

60.2

64.6

0.41

Diabetes

25.7

20.8

0.30

Coronary artery disease

17.3

14.6

0.51

Cerebrovascular disease

13.1

13.2

0.98

Other factors

Atrial fibrillation

12.0

10.4

0.64

Heart failure

4.71

3.47

0.58

**Table 2.** Risk Factors for Conversion of MCI to Dementia: Results From the Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis
Variables	Odds ratio	95% confidence interval	P-value
IADL: instrumental activities of daily living; MCI: mild cognitive impairment; MoCA: Montreal cognitive assessment.
Age	1.03	(0.99 - 1.09)	0.10
Sex (reference: male)	1.04	(0.60 - 1.81)	0.88
Current or past smoker	1.38	(0.80 - 2.40)	0.25
Family history of dementia	2.78	(1.56 - 4.95)	0.001
Dependent on ≥ 1 IADL	1.63	(0.90 - 1.01)	0.11
MoCA score	0.91	(0.85 - 0.97)	0.007
Body mass index	0.95	(0.90 - 1.00)	0.07
Polypharmacy (≥ 5 medications)	0.59	(0.34 - 1.03)	0.06
Low temperature (at or below 36 °C)	10.01	(3.59 - 27.88)	< 0.001

Table 2. Risk Factors for Conversion of MCI to Dementia: Results From the Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis

Variables

Odds ratio

95% confidence interval

P-value

IADL: instrumental activities of daily living; MCI: mild cognitive impairment; MoCA: Montreal cognitive assessment.

Age

1.03

(0.99 - 1.09)

0.10

Sex (reference: male)

1.04

(0.60 - 1.81)

0.88

Current or past smoker

1.38

(0.80 - 2.40)

0.25

Family history of dementia

2.78

(1.56 - 4.95)

0.001

Dependent on ≥ 1 IADL

1.63

(0.90 - 1.01)

0.11

MoCA score

0.91

(0.85 - 0.97)

0.007

Body mass index

0.95

(0.90 - 1.00)

0.07

Polypharmacy (≥ 5 medications)

0.59

(0.34 - 1.03)

0.06

Low temperature (at or below 36 °C)

10.01

(3.59 - 27.88)

< 0.001