Detection of dementia in primary care: The Linkoping study

We examined to what extent dementia and cognitive impairment are detected i n a primary health care centre. A systematic sample of patients aged 70 yea rs and above, who attended a primary health care centre for a doctor's cons ultation (n = 350) were examined with a neuropsychiatric examination and an interview with a close informant. Dementia was diagnosed according to DSM- III-R. Medical records from the health centre were examined for entries on cognitive decline or dementia, other diagnoses and prescribed drugs. The pr evalence of dementia was 16.3% and a further 3.1% had questionable dementia . Cognitive disturbances or dementia were noted in case records in 15 out o f 57 (26%) demented cases, and in 1 out of 11 (9%) questionable dementias. Compared to non-demented patients, the demented had more diagnoses and a hi gher number of prescribed drugs. Severity and duration of dementia were ass ociated with an increased detection. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG. Basel .