Russia has approximately 2 million patients with dementia. The lack of effective methods of treatment for dementia requires necessity of early diagnostic and prevention of cognitive disorders.
OBJECTIVE
Early detection and diagnosis of cognitive disorders in the elderly and senile at the outpatient stage of practical health care.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study included 40 patients (average age 75.8±8.37 years) who visited GPs offices in outpatient clinics. The Mini-Cog test with a cut-off point of <3 and <4 points was used for screening of cognitive disorders. To diagnose cognitive disorders, use the MMSE (Mini — mental state examination) scale.
RESULTS
At the first stage, the patients were divided into 4 groups, taking into account the sum of points on the Mini-cog test. The 1st group included patients with the sum of points on the Mini-cog test <3. In the second group-with the number of points on the Mini-cog test ≥3. the Third and 4th groups were patients with the number of points on the Mini-cog test <4 and ≥4, respectively. Groups 1 and 3 included patients with a high probability of dementia. Patients 1 (average age 78.47±7.59 years) groups 2 and 3 (average age 78.40±8.31 years) were senile, groups 2 (average age 73.91±8.55 years) and groups 4 (average age 70.53±5.72 years) were elderly. At the second stage, for the diagnosis of cognitive disorders in the selected groups, we used KSHOPS. According to the PSC, mild dementia was detected in 42 and 33% of patients in groups 1 and 3, respectively, and moderate dementia-in 29 and 33% of patients in groups 1 and 3, respectively. When comparing the parameters of CSOPS in the 1st and 2nd groups of patients, a statistically significant difference was found only when performing a sequence of 3 actions (p=0.046). When comparing the parameters of CSOPS in the 3rd and 4th groups of patients, a statistically significant difference between the groups was established both when performing a sequence of 3 actions (p=0.000), and when orienting in the place (p=0.036) and when delayed reproduction (p=0.021).
CONCLUSIONS
The use of the Mini-cog test and the MMSE scale by primary care physicians will expand the detection of cognitive disorders in the elderly and senile at the pre-treatment stage, timely refer patients to specialists and improve the effectiveness of measures to combat dementia.
