Open AccessRates of formal diagnosis of dementia in primary care: The effect of screening
Author(s) -
Eichler Tilly,
Thyrian Jochen René,
Hertel Johannes,
Michalowsky Bernhard,
Wucherer Diana,
Dreier Adina,
Kilimann Ingo,
Teipel Stefan,
Hoffmann Wolfgang
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia: diagnosis, assessment and disease monitoring
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.497
H-Index - 37
ISSN - 2352-8729
DOI - 10.1016/j.dadm.2014.11.007
Subject(s) - dementia , medical diagnosis , medicine , multivariate analysis , primary care , differential diagnosis , randomized controlled trial , pediatrics , psychiatry , family medicine , disease , pathology
Background Screening could improve recognition of dementia in primary care. We sought to determine the effect of screening for dementia in primary care practices on the formal diagnosis rate; the distribution of differential diagnoses; and the factors associated with receiving a formal diagnosis. Methods The “Dementia: life‐ and person‐centered help in Mecklenburg‐Western Pomerania” is an ongoing general practitioner (GP)‐based, randomized, controlled intervention trial. A total of 4064 community dwelling patients (aged ≥70 years) were screened for dementia in 108 GP practices. Of these patients, 692 (17%) had positive screening results (DemTect score <9). Of these 692 patients, 406 (59%) provided informed consent. The analyses included the data from 243 patients with a complete baseline assessment (preliminary data; January 2014). Results Of 146 patients without a formal diagnosis of dementia, 72 (49%) received a formal diagnosis after a positive screening outcome (69% with “unspecified dementia”). Female sex was significantly associated with receiving a formal diagnosis (multivariate analyses). Conclusion Screening improved the identification of dementia considerably. Because of the risk of receiving a false‐positive diagnosis, additional diagnostic assessment should be mandatory.