Clinical stages of patients with Alzheimer disease treated in specialist clinics in Spain. The EACE study
Por:
Alom Poveda, J, Baquero, M and Gonzalez-Adalid Guerreiro, M
Publicada:
1 oct 2013
Resumen:
Introduction: The diagnostic paradigm of Alzheimer disease (AD) is
changing; there is a trend toward diagnosing the disease in its early
stages, even before the complete syndrome of dementia is apparent. The
clinical stage at which AD is usually diagnosed in our area is unknown.
Therefore, the purpose of this study is to describe the clinical stages
of AD patients at time of diagnosis.
Methods: Multicentre, observational and cross-sectional study. Patients
with probable AD according to NINCDS-ARDRA criteria, attended in
specialist clinics in Spain, were included in the study. We recorded the
symptom onset to evaluation and symptom onset to diagnosis intervals and
clinical status of AD (based on MMSE, NPI questionnaire, and CDR scale).
Results: Participants in this study included 437 specialists
representing all of Spain's autonomous communities and a total of 1,707
patients, of whom 1,694 were included in the analysis. Mean MMSE score
was 17.6 +/- 4.8 (95% Cl: 17.4-17.9). Moderate cognitive impairment
(MMSE between 10 and 20) was detected in 64% of the patients, and severe
cognitive impairment (MMSE<10) in 6%. The mean interval between symptom
onset and the initial primary care visit was 10.9 +/- 17.2 months (95%
CI: 9.9-11.8), and the interval between symptom onset and diagnosis with
AD was 28.4 +/- 21.3 months.
Conclusions: Results from the EACE show that most AD patients in our
area have reached a moderate clinical stage by the time they are
evaluated in a specialist clinic. (C) 2012 Sociedad Espanola de
Neurologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.
Open Access
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