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(Reference retrieved automatically from SciELO through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Combined instruments on the evaluation of dementia in the elderly: preliminary results

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Author(s):
Sonia E. Zevallos Bustamante [1] ; Cássio M.C. Bottino [2] ; Marcos A. Lopes [3] ; Dionísio Azevedo [4] ; Sérgio R. Hototian [5] ; Júlio Litvoc [6] ; Wilson Jacob Filho [7]
Total Authors: 7
Affiliation:
[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Psiquiatria
[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. PROTER
[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Psiquiatria
[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Psiquiatria
[5] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Psiquiatria
[6] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva
[7] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clinicas
Total Affiliations: 7
Document type: Journal article
Source: Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria; v. 61, p. 601-606, 2003-09-00.
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a functional scale combined with a cognitive test would improve the diagnostic accuracy of dementia. METHOD: Thirty patients with mild to moderate dementia, diagnosed according to ICD-10 and DSM-III-R criteria, and 46 elderly controls, divided into three groups according to their socioeconomic status and educational level (high, medium and low) were investigated. The subjects were assessed with the MMSE, and their informants were assessed with the scales IQCODE and B-ADL. RESULTS: On the logistic regression, the MMSE isolated classified correctly 86.8% of patients and controls (80% sensitivity and 91.3% specificity). The combination MMSE + IQCODE classified correctly 92.1% of the subjects (83.3% sensitivity and 97.8% specificity), and the combination MMSE + B-ADL classified correctly 92.1% of subjects (86.7% sensitivity and 95.7% specificity). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the combination of a cognitive test with a functional scale can improve the detection of mild to moderate cases of dementia even on samples of a very heterogeneous population regarding its socioeconomic status and educational level, as the Brazilian. (AU)