Validation study of a Spanish version of the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (STICS-m) / Validación de la versión en español de la Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status modificada

Objective: To compare the Spanish version of the modified Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (STICS-m) with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and predict its ability to detect the development of dementia. Method: 106 participants in a dietary intervention trial underwent face-to-face evaluation with the MMSE, and phone interview with the STICS-m. The correlation between STICS-m and MMSE was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of consistency. Secondly, 932 participants over 55 years old from the "Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra" cohort were evaluated with the STICS-m and data on dementia diagnosis were gathered (median follow-up time of 6.5 years). A logistic regression model evaluated the association between STICS-m score or 2-year changes in STICS-m score and risk of developing dementia, adjusting for ApoE, age and years of university education. Results: The ICC between the MMSE and the STICS-m was 0.31 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.13-0.48). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the development of dementia for each additional point in the baseline STICS-m score was 0.85 (95%CI: 0.72-1.02; p=0.084). When considering the 2-year change in the STICS-m score as exposure, the OR for the development of dementia was 0.79 (95%CI: 0.67-0.93; p=0.006). Conclusions: The weak correlation between the STICS-m and the MMSE reflects moderate-low concurrent validity. Even so, the STICS-m can be regarded as an useful tool in the epidemiological setting since increasing scores appear to be able to predict a lower risk of developing dementia

Objetivo: Estudiar la correlación de la Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status modificada en español (STICS-m) con el Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) y predecir la capacidad de la primera para detectar el desarrollo de demencia. Método: Ciento seis sujetos de un estudio de intervención dietética fueron evaluados personalmente con el MMSE y por teléfono con la STICS-m. La correlación entre ambos se midió con el coeficiente de correlación intraclase (CCI) de consistencia. Además, 932 participantes mayores de 55 años de la cohorte "Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra" fueron evaluados con la STICS-m. Durante una mediana de seguimiento de 6,5 años, se recogió información sobre el desarrollo de demencia. Mediante regresión logística se estudió la asociación entre la puntuación de la STICS-m o el cambio a 2 años en la puntuación y el riesgo de desarrollar demencia, ajustando por apolipoproteína E, edad y años de educación universitaria. Resultados: El CCI entre el MMSE y la STICS-m fue de 0,31 (intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]: 0,13-0,48). La odds ratio (OR) ajustada para el desarrollo de demencia para cada punto adicional en la puntuación basal de la STICS-m fue de 0,85 (IC95%: 0,72-1,02; p=0,084). Al considerar el cambio en la puntuación a los 2 años como variable independiente, la OR fue de 0,79 (IC95%: 0,67-0,93; p=0,006). Conclusiones: La correlación débil entre la STICS-m y el MMSE refleja solo una moderada-baja validez concurrente. Aun así, la STICS-m puede considerarse útil en el contexto epidemiológico, ya que aumentos en la puntuación parecen predecir un menor riesgo de desarrollar demencia

Validation study of a Spanish version of the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (STICS-m).

OBJECTIVE: To compare the Spanish version of the modified Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (STICS-m) with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and predict its ability to detect the development of dementia. METHOD: 106 participants in a dietary intervention trial underwent face-to-face evaluation with the MMSE, and phone interview with the STICS-m. The correlation between STICS-m and MMSE was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of consistency. Secondly, 932 participants over 55 years old from the "Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra" cohort were evaluated with the STICS-m and data on dementia diagnosis were gathered (median follow-up time of 6.5 years). A logistic regression model evaluated the association between STICS-m score or 2-year changes in STICS-m score and risk of developing dementia, adjusting for ApoE, age and years of university education. RESULTS: The ICC between the MMSE and the STICS-m was 0.31 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.13-0.48). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the development of dementia for each additional point in the baseline STICS-m score was 0.85 (95%CI: 0.72-1.02; p=0.084). When considering the 2-year change in the STICS-m score as exposure, the OR for the development of dementia was 0.79 (95%CI: 0.67-0.93; p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The weak correlation between the STICS-m and the MMSE reflects moderate-low concurrent validity. Even so, the STICS-m can be regarded as an useful tool in the epidemiological setting since increasing scores appear to be able to predict a lower risk of developing dementia.

Impact of dementia on hospitalization.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze and determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of hospitalized dementia patients compared with nondemented patients. METHODS: We examined hospital discharge database records dated 1998-2003 from public hospitals in Andalusia, Spain. We used ICD-9-CM codes to identify patients with dementia. The variables examined included age, length of stay, discharge diagnosis, diagnostic-related groups, and mortality of both dementia and nondementia patients over 65 years of age. RESULTS: A diagnosis of dementia was documented for 40,482 cases. The prevalence of dementia increased from 3.43% to 4.64% between 1998 and 2003 and was higher among older patients and women. Dementia was the reason for admission in 5.6% of cases. Medical reasons constituted 82.4% of admittances. Dementia patients had hip surgery more frequently than patients without dementia, and other procedures (orthopedic surgery, cataracts, or hernia repair) were less frequent (p < 0.001). The mean duration of the hospital stay was longer (13.4 vs. 10.7 days) and the intra-hospital mortality rate was greater (19.3% vs. 8.7%) for patients with dementia compared to those without dementia. Dementia was an independent predictor of mortality (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.72-1.82). CONCLUSIONS: Dementia is increasing among hospitalized patients. Dementia patients have different reasons for hospitalization and higher mortality. It is necessary to identify these differences and to improve the hospital care of dementia patients.

Contribution of white matter lesions to gray matter atrophy in multiple sclerosis: evidence from voxel-based analysis of T1 lesions in the visual pathway.

BACKGROUND: The biological basis of gray matter (GM) atrophy in multiple sclerosis is not well understood, but GM damage seems to be the most critical factor leading to permanent disability. OBJECTIVE: To assess to what extent white matter (WM) lesions contribute to regional GM atrophy in multiple sclerosis. DESIGN: Because optic pathway GM atrophy and optic radiation lesions, rather than being related to each other, could be independent results of the disease, we applied a nonaprioristic WM method to analyze the interrelationships of both phenomena. On a voxel-by-voxel basis, we correlated T1 magnetic resonance imaging-derived lesion probability maps of the entire brain with atrophy of the lateral geniculate nuclei and calcarine/pericalcarine cortices. SETTING: Multiple sclerosis center, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. PATIENTS: Sixty-one patients with multiple sclerosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Mapping of WM regions contributing to GM atrophy in the optic pathway. RESULTS: Patients with multiple sclerosis had lateral geniculate nucleus atrophy, which correlated with the presence of lesions specifically in the optic radiations but not in the rest of the brain. Optic pathway lesions explained up to 28% of the change of variance in lateral geniculate nucleus atrophy. Patients also had occipital cortex atrophy, which did not correlate with lesions in the optic radiations or any other WM region. CONCLUSIONS: Focal WM damage is associated with upstream GM atrophy, suggesting that retrograde damage of the perikarya from axonal injury in multiple sclerosis plaques is one of the significant factors in the genesis of GM atrophy, although other neurodegenerative processes are probably at work as well.