Cognitive screening tools for identification of dementia in illiterate and low-educated older adults, a systematic review and meta-analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 897-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stella-Maria Paddick ◽  
William K. Gray ◽  
Jackie McGuire ◽  
Jenny Richardson ◽  
Catherine Dotchin ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:The majority of older adults with dementia live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Illiteracy and low educational background are common in older LMIC populations, particularly in rural areas, and cognitive screening tools developed for this setting must reflect this. This study aimed to review published validation studies of cognitive screening tools for dementia in low-literacy settings in order to determine the most appropriate tools for use.Method:A systematic search of major databases was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Validation studies of brief cognitive screening tests including illiterate participants or those with elementary education were eligible. Studies were quality assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. Good or fair quality studies were included in a bivariate random-effects meta-analysis and a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curve constructed.Results:Forty-five eligible studies were quality assessed. A significant proportion utilized a case–control design, resulting in spectrum bias. The area under the ROC (AUROC) curve was 0.937 for community/low prevalence studies, 0.881 for clinic based/higher prevalence studies, and 0.869 for illiterate populations. For the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (and adaptations), the AUROC curve was 0.853.Conclusion:Numerous tools for assessment of cognitive impairment in low-literacy settings have been developed, and tools developed for use in high-income countries have also been validated in low-literacy settings. Most tools have been inadequately validated, with only MMSE, cognitive abilities screening instrument (CASI), Eurotest, and Fototest having more than one published good or fair quality study in an illiterate or low-literate setting. At present no screening test can be recommended.

2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 372-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare A. Corish ◽  
Laura A. Bardon

Older adults are at risk of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). PEM detrimentally impacts on health, cognitive and physical functioning and quality of life. Given these negative health outcomes in the context of an ageing global population, the Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life Joint Programming Initiative Malnutrition in the Elderly (MaNuEL) sought to create a knowledge hub on malnutrition in older adults. This review summarises the findings related to the screening and determinants of malnutrition. Based on a scoring system that incorporated validity, parameters used and practicability, recommendations on setting-specific screening tools for use with older adults were made. These are: DETERMINE your health checklist for the community, Nutritional Form for the Elderly for rehabilitation, Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire-Residential Care for residential care and Malnutrition Screening Tool or Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form for hospitals. A meta-analysis was conducted on six longitudinal studies from MaNuEL partner countries to identify the determinants of malnutrition. Increasing age, unmarried/separated/divorced status (vs.married but not widowed), difficulties walking 100 m or climbing stairs and hospitalisation in the year prior to baseline or during follow-up predicted malnutrition. The sex-specific predictors of malnutrition were explored within The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing dataset. For females, cognitive impairment or receiving social support predicted malnutrition. The predictors for males were falling in the previous 2 years, hospitalisation in the past year and self-reported difficulties in climbing stairs. Incorporation of these findings into public health policy and clinical practice would support the early identification and management of malnutrition.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1771-1784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Pye ◽  
Anna Pavlina Charalambous ◽  
Iracema Leroi ◽  
Chrysoulla Thodi ◽  
Piers Dawes

ABSTRACTBackground:Cognitive screening tests frequently rely on items being correctly heard or seen. We aimed to identify, describe, and evaluate the adaptation, validity, and availability of cognitive screening and assessment tools for dementia which have been developed or adapted for adults with acquired hearing and/or vision impairment.Method:Electronic databases were searched using subject terms “hearing disorders” OR “vision disorders” AND “cognitive assessment,” supplemented by exploring reference lists of included papers and via consultation with health professionals to identify additional literature.Results:1,551 papers were identified, of which 13 met inclusion criteria. Four papers related to tests adapted for hearing impairment; 11 papers related to tests adapted for vision impairment. Frequently adapted tests were the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA). Adaptations for hearing impairment involved deleting or creating written versions for hearing-dependent items. Adaptations for vision impairment involved deleting vision-dependent items or spoken/tactile versions of visual tasks. No study reported validity of the test in relation to detection of dementia in people with hearing/vision impairment. Item deletion had a negative impact on the psychometric properties of the test.Conclusions:While attempts have been made to adapt cognitive tests for people with acquired hearing and/or vision impairment, the primary limitation of these adaptations is that their validity in accurately detecting dementia among those with acquired hearing or vision impairment is yet to be established. It is likely that the sensitivity and specificity of the adapted versions are poorer than the original, especially if the adaptation involved item deletion. One solution would involve item substitution in an alternative sensory modality followed by re-validation of the adapted test.


2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (11) ◽  
pp. 1519-1535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex F. Bullock ◽  
Sarah L. Greenley ◽  
Gordon A. G. McKenzie ◽  
Lewis W. Paton ◽  
Miriam J. Johnson

Abstract Malnutrition predicts poorer clinical outcomes for people with cancer. Older adults with cancer are a complex, growing population at high risk of weight-losing conditions. A number of malnutrition screening tools exist, however the best screening tool for this group is unknown. The aim was to systematically review the published evidence regarding markers and measures of nutritional status in older adults with cancer (age ≥ 70). A systematic search was performed in Ovid Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, British Nursing Database and Cochrane CENTRAL; search terms related to malnutrition, cancer, older adults. Titles, abstracts and papers were screened and quality-appraised. Data evaluating ability of markers of nutritional status to predict patient outcomes were subjected to meta-analysis or narrative synthesis. Forty-two studies, describing 15 markers were included. Meta-analysis found decreased food intake was associated with mortality (OR 2.15 [2.03–4.20] p = < 0.00001) in univariate analysis. Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) was associated with overall survival (HR 1.89 [1.03–3.48] p = 0.04). PNI markers (albumin, total lymphocyte count) could be seen as markers of inflammation rather than nutrition. There a suggested relationship between very low body mass index (BMI) (<18 kg/m2) and clinical outcomes. No tool was identified as appropriate to screen for malnutrition, as distinct from inflammatory causes of weight-loss. Risk of cancer-cachexia and sarcopenia in older adults with cancer limits the tools analysed. Measures of food intake predicted mortality and should be included in clinical enquiry. A screening tool that distinguishes between malnutrition, cachexia and sarcopenia in older adults with cancer is needed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciane de Fátima Viola Ortega ◽  
Ivan Aprahamian ◽  
Marcus Kiiti Borges ◽  
João de Castilho Cação ◽  
Mônica Sanches Yassuda

ABSTRACT Cognitive screening instruments are influenced by education and/or culture. In Brazil, as illiteracy and low education rates are high, it is necessary to identify the screening tools with the highest diagnostic accuracy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Objective: To identify the cognitive screening instruments applied in the Brazilian population with greater accuracy, to detect AD in individuals with a low educational level or who are illiterate. Methods: Systematic search in SciELO, PubMed and LILACS databases of studies that used cognitive screening tests to detect AD in older Brazilian adults with low or no education. Results: We found 328 articles and nine met the inclusion criteria. The identified instruments showed adequate or high diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion: For valid cognitive screening it is important to consider sociocultural and educational factors in the interpretation of results. The construction of specific instruments for the low educated or illiterate elderly should better reflect the difficulties of the Brazilian elderly in different regions of the country.


Author(s):  
Anna Terajewicz LaRose ◽  
John Renner

This chapter reviews the prevalence, health risks, and treatment of alcohol use in older adults. We consider epidemiological data showing that a significant proportion of older adults who use alcohol exhibit harmful drinking behavior. We explore the recommendations for alcohol use and definitions of unhealthy use, the neurobiology of alcohol addiction, cognitive effects of alcohol use, and medical sequelae of chronic alcohol use. We identify biomarkers, effective screening tools, and brief interventions for hazardous and harmful alcohol use in older adults. Possible benefits for light alcohol use, as well as risks and medical complications of alcohol use among older adults, are considered. Finally, we review the medical treatment of intoxication and alcohol-use disorders in this population, with an emphasis on the need for evidence-based research to guide clinical practices in identifying harmful levels of use and developing treatment strategies for older patients with alcohol use disorders.


2020 ◽  
pp. 089198872091551
Author(s):  
Shanna L. Burke ◽  
Adrienne Grudzien ◽  
Aaron Burgess ◽  
Miriam J. Rodriguez ◽  
Yesenia Rivera ◽  
...  

Increasing rates of dementia spectrum disorders among Spanish-speaking geriatric populations necessitate the development of culturally appropriate cognitive screening tests that can identify neurodegenerative disorders in their earliest stages when emerging disease-modifying treatments are most likely to be effective. This scoping review identified 26 brief Spanish language cognitive screening tools (<20 minutes) by searching academic databases using a combination of search terms. Results suggest that the Mini-Mental Status Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment appear to be less valid than other screeners. Instruments such as the 7-Minute Screen and Mini-Cog evidence higher classification rates of dementia, while Phototest detected mild cognitive impairment at higher rates more consistently than other screeners. Different sensitivity and specificity outcomes and cutoffs were observed when the same cognitive screener was evaluated in different countries. Results indicate that it is imperative to increase nation-specific validation and normative data for these instruments to best serve diverse populations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aparna Sahu

Tablet-based cognitive screening batteries are becoming popular in the West due to the ease of administration on patients and healthy controls, collection of data from large samples, and scoring and reporting of test performances. These tests have garnered positive reception from clinical professionals, researchers, and patients. The article seeks to assess the feasibility of introducing tablet-based screening tests for the Indian population. Potential advantages and concerns on the use of smart technologies for testing are addressed in the light of past and current research.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei-Yu Wu ◽  
Kuei-Min Chen ◽  
Frank Belcastro

Abstract Context Diet may be one of the modifiable environmental factors that could reduce depressive symptoms or abate the development of depression without side effects. However, previous reviews mainly focused on general adult populations. Objective The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to explore the association between healthy dietary patterns and depression risk in older adults. Data Sources Eight databases were searched up to September 2019. The inclusion criteria were older adults aged ≥ 65 years, healthy dietary patterns, depression assessed by a physician or by validated screening tools, and quantitative study design. Data Extraction Data were extracted independently by 2 researchers, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guideline was followed. Data Analysis Meta-analysis was conducted by calculating the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% CIs. A total of 18 eligible studies were meta-analyzed. Results showed that a healthy dietary pattern is associated with a reduced risk of depression in older adults (OR, 0.85; 95%CI, 0.78–0.92; P &lt; 0.001). There was high heterogeneity (I2 = 64.9%; P &lt; 0.001) among the studies. Subgroup analyses indicated that sample size and depression screening tools were the main sources of study heterogeneity. Conclusions An inverse association between healthy dietary patterns and depression risk in older adults was found. However, the high heterogeneity among the studies should be considered. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO registration no. CRD 42020169195.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Kopczynska ◽  
Ben Sharif ◽  
Harry Unwin ◽  
John Lynch ◽  
Andrew Forrester ◽  
...  

Recent description of the microbiology of sepsis on the wards or information on the real-life antibiotic choices used in sepsis is lacking. There is growing concern of the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and omission of microbiological investigations in the management of septic patients. We performed a secondary analysis of three annual 24-h point-prevalence studies on the general wards across all Welsh acute hospitals in years 2016–2018. Data were collected on patient demographics, as well as radiological, laboratory and microbiological data within 48-h of the study. We screened 19,453 patients over the three 24 h study periods and recruited 1252 patients who fulfilled the entry criteria. 775 (64.9%) patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics. Only in 33.65% (421/1252) of all recruited patients did healthcare providers obtain blood cultures; in 25.64% (321/1252) urine cultures; in 8.63% (108/1252) sputum cultures; in 6.79% (85/1252) wound cultures; in 15.25% (191/1252) other cultures. Out of the recruited patients, 59.1% (740/1252) fulfilled SEPSIS-3 criteria. Patients with SEPSIS-3 criteria were significantly more likely to receive antibiotics than the non-septic cohort (p < 0.0001). In a multivariable regression analysis increase in SOFA score, increased number of SIRS criteria and the use of the official sepsis screening tool were associated with antibiotic administration, however obtaining microbiology cultures was not. Our study shows that antibiotics prescription practice is not accompanied by microbiological investigations. A significant proportion of sepsis patients are still at risk of not receiving appropriate antibiotics treatment and microbiological investigations; this may be improved by a more thorough implementation of sepsis screening tools.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 460-471
Author(s):  
Emma Elliott ◽  
Claire Green ◽  
David J. Llewellyn ◽  
Terence J. Quinn

Background: Telephone-based cognitive assessments may be preferable to in-person testing in terms of test burden, economic and opportunity cost. Objective: We sought to determine the accuracy of telephone-based screening for the identification of dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Methods: Five multidisciplinary databases were searched. Two researchers independently screened articles and extracted data. Eligible studies compared any multi-domain telephone-based assessment of cognition to the face-to-face diagnostic evaluation. Where data allowed, we pooled test accuracy metrics using the bivariate approach. Results: From 11,732 titles, 34 papers were included, describing 15 different tests. There was variation in test scoring and quality of included studies. Pooled analyses of accuracy for dementia: Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) (<31/41) sensitivity: 0.92, specificity: 0.66 (6 studies); TICSmodified (<28/50) sensitivity: 0.91, specificity: 0.91 (3 studies). For MCI: TICS-modified (<33/50) sensitivity: 0.82, specificity: 0.87 (3 studies); Telephone-Montreal Cognitive Assessment (<18/22) sensitivity: 0.98, specificity: 0.69 (2 studies). Conclusion: There is limited diagnostic accuracy evidence for the many telephonic cognitive screens that exist. The TICS and TICS-m have the greatest supporting evidence; their test accuracy profiles make them suitable as initial cognitive screens where face to face assessment is not possible.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document