Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the study subjects.
| Variable | NC (n = 40) | MCI (n = 40) | p |
| Age (years) | 77.8 (4.5) | 79.4 (5.3) | 0.145 b |
| Gender, female | 33 (82.5) | 27 (67.5) | 0.121 d |
| Education (years) | 11.4 (4.4) | 10.5 (4.4) | 0.279 c |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 24.1 (3.0) | 24.6 (3.2) | 0.431 b |
| Hypertension | 21 (52.5) | 24 (60.0) | 0.499 d |
| SBP (mm Hg) | 134.8 (19.2) | 129.0 (17.4) | 0.158 b |
| DBP (mm Hg) | 75.2 (8.7) | 73.6 (8.3) | 0.404 b |
| Heart rate (beats/min) | 65.2 (8.7) | 69.6 (9.6) | 0.035 b |
| Respiratory rate (cycles/min) | 14.0 (2.4) | 15.0 (2.8) | 0.104 b |
| Smoking | 2 (5.0) | 1 (2.5) | 1.000 e |
| Alcohol (AU/day) | 1.3 (1.6) | 1.3 (1.5) | 0.968 c |
| Coffee (cups/day) | 1.5 (1.0) | 1.3 (1.1) | 0.317 c |
| Physical activity (MET-hours/week) | 68.4 (39.3) | 57.6 (39.8) | 0.144 c |
| Family history of premature CAD | 7 (17.5) | 7 (17.5) | 1.000 d |
| Glucose (mg/dl) | 87.7 (9.8) | 91.5 (10.0) | 0.107 b |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dl) | 222.9 (37.8) | 227.0 (33.9) | 0.635 b |
| LDL cholesterol (mg/dl) | 137.6 (33.0) | 139.7 (28.0) | 0.768 b |
| HDL cholesterol (mg/dl) | 69.2 (20.5) | 65.8 (18.2) | 0.470 c |
| Triglycerides (mg/dl) | 104.0 (32.4) | 106.7 (36.4) | 0.745 b |
| Target organ damage | |||
| LVH-echocardiography | 16 (40.0) | 20 (50.0) | 0.369 d |
| Carotid atherosclerosis | |||
| Thickening (IMT >0.9 mm) | 35 (87.5) | 30 (75.0) | 0.152 d |
| plaque/s | 33 (82.5) | 29 (72.5) | 0.284 d |
| Number of medications | 3.3 (1.7) | 3.8 (2.2) | 0.311 b |
| Antihypertensive medications | |||
| ACE-Is/ARBs | 16 (40.0) | 23 (57.5) | 0.117 d |
| Diuretics | 7 (17.5) | 9 (22.5) | 0.576 d |
| CCBs (peripherally-acting) | 3 (7.5) | 8 (20.0) | 0.105 d |
| Psychotropic medications | |||
| SSRIs | 9 (22.5) | 13 (32.5) | 0.317 d |
| Benzodiazepines a | 8 (20.0) | 7 (17.5) | 0.775 d |
| BADL score | 5.5 (0.5) | 5.6 (0.6) | 0.325 c |
| IADL score | 7.4 (1.2) | 6.7 (1.6) | 0.006 c |
| MMSE score | 28.6 (1.0) | 26.8 (2.0) | <0.001 b |
| CIRS-s score | 1.6 (0.2) | 1.4 (0.2) | 0.029 b |
| CIRS-m score | 2.5 (1.3) | 1.7 (1.1) | 0.006 c |
| STPI-T score | 19.5 (5.7) | 19.6 (5.7) | 0.843 c |
| GDS-s score | 3.4 (3.1) | 3.2 (2.8) | 0.747 c |
Continuous variables are expressed as mean (SD), categorical variables are expressed as n (%). Significant results are shown in bold typeface.
Refers to regular use. Intermittent users (n = 2 in each group) were asked to refrain from use in the two days prior to testing;
Student's t-test;
Mann-Whitney's U-test;
Chi-squared test;
Fisher's exact test. NC: normal cognition (controls); MCI: mild cognitive impairment; BMI: body mass index; SBP: systolic blood pressure; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; AU: alcohol units (1 AU = 10 g of alcohol); MET: metabolic equivalent (energy expenditure index, 1 MET = 1 kcal•kg−1•h−1); CAD: coronary artery disease; LDL: low density lipoprotein; HDL: high density lipoprotein; LVH: left ventricular hypertrophy; IMT: intima-media thickness; ACE-Is: angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors; ARBs: angiotensin II receptor blockers; CCBs: calcium-channel blockers; SSRIs: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; BADL: basic activities of daily living (score range 0–6, higher scores indicate greater functional independence); IADL: instrumental activities of daily living (score range 0–8, higher scores indicate greater functional independence); MMSE: mini mental state examination (score range 0–30, higher scores indicate better cognitive function); CIRS-s: cumulative illness rating scale severity (score range 1–5, higher scores indicate greater comorbidity); CIRS-m: cumulative illness rating scale morbidity (score range 0–13, higher scores indicate more severe comorbidity); STPI-T: state trait personality inventory- trait anxiety subscale (score range 10–40, higher scores indicate greater trait anxiety); GDS-s: geriatric depression scale short form (score range 0–15, higher scores indicate greater depressive symptoms).