Symptoms of preclinical dementia in general practice up to five years before dementia diagnosis

被引:42
作者
Ramakers, Inez H. G. B.
Visser, Pieter Jelle
Aalten, Pauline
Boesten, Jos H. M.
Metsemakers, Job F. M.
Jolles, Jelle
Verhey, Frans R. J.
机构
[1] Univ Hosp Maastricht, Dept Psychiat, NL-6202 AZ Maastricht, Netherlands
[2] Maastricht Univ, Inst Brain & Behav, Dept Psychiat & Neuropsychol, Maastricht, Netherlands
[3] Maastricht Univ, Inst Brain & Behav, Dept Gen Practice, Maastricht, Netherlands
[4] Vrije Univ Amsterdam Med Ctr, Dept Neurol, Amsterdam, Netherlands
关键词
preclinical dementia; general practice; contact frequency with general practitioner;
D O I
10.1159/000107594
中图分类号
R592 [老年病学]; C [社会科学总论];
学科分类号
03 ; 0303 ; 100203 ;
摘要
Objectives: To investigate which symptoms are indicative of preclinical dementia in general practice and whether subjects with preclinical dementia have an increased contact frequency with their general practitioner (GP). Methods: Individuals with preclinical dementia (n=75) and non-demented controls (n=125) were selected from the Dutch GP registration network (RNH). Number of visits and odds ratio for the risk of subsequent dementia of various symptoms were analysed. Analyses were done separately for each 12-month period, in the 5 years prior to the diagnosis of dementia. Results: In the 5 years prior to diagnosis, subjects with preclinical dementia visited their GP more often than controls. Gait disturbances were the earliest predictor. Cognitive complaints were predictive for dementia in the 3 years before diagnosis. All other symptoms, except vascular symptoms, were predictive in the year prior to diagnosis. Sensitivity was highest for cognitive symptoms (0.58) and gait disturbances (0.47) in the year before diagnosis. Conclusion: Preclinical dementia is associated with an increased contact frequency between patient and GP at least 5 years prior to the diagnosis of dementia. Gait disturbances and cognitive complaints are the earliest symptoms of preclinical dementia. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.
引用
收藏
页码:300 / 306
页数:7
相关论文
共 25 条
  • [21] VANDENAKKER M, 2004, GEN PRACTICE GOLD MI
  • [22] Abnormality of gait as a predictor of non-Alzheimer's dementia
    Verghese, J
    Lipton, RB
    Hall, CB
    Kuslansky, G
    Katz, MJ
    Buschke, H
    [J]. NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, 2002, 347 (22) : 1761 - 1768
  • [23] Gait slowing as a predictor of incident dementia: 6-year longitudinal data from the Sydney Older Persons Study
    Waite, LM
    Grayson, DA
    Piguet, O
    Creasey, H
    Bennett, HP
    Broe, GA
    [J]. JOURNAL OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES, 2005, 229 : 89 - 93
  • [24] A prospective study of cerebral white matter abnormalities in older people with gait dysfunction
    Whitman, GT
    Tang, T
    Lin, A
    Baloh, RW
    [J]. NEUROLOGY, 2001, 57 (06) : 990 - 994
  • [25] The role of general practitioners in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease: A multinational survey
    Wilkinson, D
    Stave, C
    Keohane, D
    Vincenzino, O
    [J]. JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL RESEARCH, 2004, 32 (02) : 149 - 159