Factors associated with abnormal cognitive screening results in older adults receiving primary health care: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: To analyze factors associated with abnormal cognitive screening results in older adults receiving primary health care. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 368 people aged 60 years or older, assessed between August 2024 and June 2025 at a Basic Health Unit in the municipality of São Paulo. The outcome was the presence of an abnormality in the cognitive domain recorded in the Multidimensional Assessment of Older Adults in Primary Care (AMPI-AB), interpreted as a screening finding and not as a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) were estimated using logistic regression, with 95% confidence intervals (IC95%). RESULTS: 188 participants (51.1%) had abnormal cognitive screening results. After adjustment for age and sex, abnormal mood (OR=2.21; IC95% 1.41-3.46), impaired hearing (OR=1.96; IC95% 1.22-3.16), urinary incontinence (OR=1.67; IC95% 1.06-2.63), and negative self-rated health (OR=1.66; IC95% 1.06-2.59) remained associated with the outcome. Age and sex showed no statistically significant association in the final model. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal cognitive screening results were frequent and were associated with emotional, sensory, urinary, and overall health perception dimensions. The findings support a multidimensional approach in primary care but should be interpreted with caution because of the cross-sectional design, convenience sampling, and the screening nature of the outcome.