The IQCODE : An Alternative Screening Test for Dementia for Low Educated Thai Elderly +

0
Rate this post

The IQCODE : An Alternative Screening Test for Dementia for Low Educated Thai Elderly +

Vorapun Senanarong, m.d., m.r.c.p. (uk)*,            

Sirichai Assavisaraporn, m.d.*,

Nopwan Sivasiriyanonds, b.sc.*,       Thipawan Printarakul, b.sc.*,

Piyanuj Jamjumrus, b.sc.*,                  Suthipol Udompunthuruk, M.sc.*,

Niphon Poungvarin, m.d., f.r.c.p., f.r.c.p. (e)*

Abstract

                Objective : To explore an alternative method of screening for dementia in Thai elderly people who have a low educational level. The Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the elderly (IQCODE) is used as the screening test.

                Material and Method : A community based population of elderly subjects in Bangkok including 87 normal subjects and 73 demented elderly people were studied. Their ages ranged from 52 to 85 years old. The majority of the elderly people had had four years or less of primary-education. Dementia was diagnosed independently by DSM IV criteria. A short form of the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE), a short form, was administered to informants of the elderly by trained medical personnel. The Thai Mini Mental State Examination (TMSE) was also administered to these subjects and compared with the IQCODE. SPSS 9.0 was used for statistical analysis.

                Results : The IQCODE showed a negative correlation with the TMSE (n=160, r=-0.679, p