Factors influencing possible delay in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Findings from a tertiary Public University Hospital
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| Format: | Artículo científico |
| Language: | en |
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Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento
2011
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| _version_ | 1876455492573724672 |
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| author | Luís Felipe José Ravic de Miranda |
| author_facet | Luís Felipe José Ravic de Miranda |
| contents | Factors influencing possible delay in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Findings from a tertiary Public University Hospital Luís Felipe José Ravic de Miranda Rafael de Oliveira Matoso Márlon Vieira Rodrigues Thiago Oliveira Lemos de Lima Adriano Fiorini Nascimento Fernando Castro Carvalho Débora Regina de Melo Moreira Jeferson Cruz Fernandes Jonas Jardim de Paula Luiz Alexandre V. Magno Paulo Caramelli Edgar Nunes de Moraes Medicina education caregivers delay in diagnosis Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer`s disease (AD) is characterized by impairment in memory and autonomy, causing excesive pressure on family and an overburdened health care system. Early diagnosis, with the appropriate treatment, is important to reduce the pattern of disease progression. Objective: The study sought to identify the most probable causes of delay in diagnosis. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving AD patients followed at an Outpatient Geriatric Clinic from a tertiary public university hospital was conducted between June 2009 and February 2011. Results: Ninety-four patients were evaluated (66% women), aged 77.76±6.8 years and with median educational level of 3 years (95% CI 2.7-3.80). Regarding severity of dementia, 51.8% of patients were classified as having mild dementia (CDR 1), 40% moderate dementia (CDR 2) and 8.2% severe dementia (CDR 3). Mean educational level of caregivers was 8.3±3.9 years. Among those who believed there was a delay, 36% stated that the “family thought that the changes were normal for the age of the patient” reporting average delay of 1.8 years (95% CI: 1.3-2.5) while 45.3% stated that the “doctor did not reach a diagnosis” reporting a median delay of 1.5 years (95% CI: 1.4-2.3). Conclusion: Based on these results, it can be concluded the time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was excessive. This study may be useful to help increase awareness of issues not sufficiently discussed in the literature, such as diagnostic delay and influence of caregivers’ educational level on treatment. 2011 artículo científico 1980-5764 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=339529033010 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=3395 Dementia & Neuropsychologia application/pdf Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento Dementia & Neuropsychologia (Brasil) Num.4 Vol.5 |
| format | Artículo científico |
| id | redalyc_339529033010 |
| institution | Redalyc |
| language | en |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| publisher | Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento |
| spellingShingle | Factors influencing possible delay in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Findings from a tertiary Public University Hospital Luís Felipe José Ravic de Miranda Medicina education caregivers delay in diagnosis Alzheimer’s disease Factors influencing possible delay in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Findings from a tertiary Public University Hospital Luís Felipe José Ravic de Miranda Rafael de Oliveira Matoso Márlon Vieira Rodrigues Thiago Oliveira Lemos de Lima Adriano Fiorini Nascimento Fernando Castro Carvalho Débora Regina de Melo Moreira Jeferson Cruz Fernandes Jonas Jardim de Paula Luiz Alexandre V. Magno Paulo Caramelli Edgar Nunes de Moraes Medicina education caregivers delay in diagnosis Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer`s disease (AD) is characterized by impairment in memory and autonomy, causing excesive pressure on family and an overburdened health care system. Early diagnosis, with the appropriate treatment, is important to reduce the pattern of disease progression. Objective: The study sought to identify the most probable causes of delay in diagnosis. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving AD patients followed at an Outpatient Geriatric Clinic from a tertiary public university hospital was conducted between June 2009 and February 2011. Results: Ninety-four patients were evaluated (66% women), aged 77.76±6.8 years and with median educational level of 3 years (95% CI 2.7-3.80). Regarding severity of dementia, 51.8% of patients were classified as having mild dementia (CDR 1), 40% moderate dementia (CDR 2) and 8.2% severe dementia (CDR 3). Mean educational level of caregivers was 8.3±3.9 years. Among those who believed there was a delay, 36% stated that the “family thought that the changes were normal for the age of the patient” reporting average delay of 1.8 years (95% CI: 1.3-2.5) while 45.3% stated that the “doctor did not reach a diagnosis” reporting a median delay of 1.5 years (95% CI: 1.4-2.3). Conclusion: Based on these results, it can be concluded the time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was excessive. This study may be useful to help increase awareness of issues not sufficiently discussed in the literature, such as diagnostic delay and influence of caregivers’ educational level on treatment. 2011 artículo científico 1980-5764 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=339529033010 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=3395 Dementia & Neuropsychologia application/pdf Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento Dementia & Neuropsychologia (Brasil) Num.4 Vol.5 |
| title | Factors influencing possible delay in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Findings from a tertiary Public University Hospital |
| topic | Medicina education caregivers delay in diagnosis Alzheimer’s disease |
| url | https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=339529033010 |