Experiencia con el Eurotest en la exploración neuropsicológica. Un test de cribado / Experiences with the eurotest in neuropsychological examinations. A screening test

RESUMEN

Introducción. El incremento de pacientes extranjeros atendidos en nuestras consultas hace necesario disponer de tests compatibles entre múltiples países, especialmente del ámbito europeo. El objetivo del estudio es comparar el Eurotest con otros tests de cribado y comprobar si existen diferencias entre pacientes europeos (no españoles) y españoles. Pacientes y métodos. Incluimos pacientes remitidos por presentar quejas compatibles con deterioro cognitivo; se les realizó un protocolo de tests para su estudio, que incluyó la escala global de deterioro (GDS), el MMSE (Mini-Mental state examination) de Folstein, el test del reloj (TR) y el Eurotest. Recogimos datos epidemiológicos. Fueron 45 pacientes, 21 hombres y 24 mujeres, con una edad media de 69,76 años, 34 nacieron en España y 11 fuera. Resultados. Los diagnósticos fueron 17 con deterioro cognitivo leve, 8 con enfermedad de Alzheimer, 6 con deterioro asociado a la edad, 5 con demencia vascular, 5 con trastorno psiquiátrico, 1 con demencia mixta y 1 con demencia por cuerpos de Lewy. La distribución según GDS fueron: 10 con GDS de 2, 18 con GDS de 3, y 17 con GDS de 4. Todos los pacientes con GDS 2 realizaron los tests correctamente, con GDS 3 dieron por debajo del punto de corte 5 para Eurotest, 4 para MMSE y 3 para TR, y en GDS 4 fueron 9, 7 y 6, respectivamente. Los resultados no variaron entre españoles y extranjeros, el índice kappa entre MMSE y Eurotest fue de 0,39, y el coeficiente de Pearson, de 0,67. Conclusión. El Eurotest fue ligeramente más útil en pacientes más deteriorados (AU)

ABSTRACT

Introduction. The increasing number of foreign patients being attended in our health centres makes it necessary to have tests that are compatible among different countries, especially in Europe. The objective of this study is to compare the Eurotest with other screening tests and to determine whether there are any differences between European (other than Spanish) and Spanish patients. Patients and methods. We included patients who were referred because of complaints that were compatible with cognitive impairment and they were asked to carry out a protocol of tests that included the global deterioration scale (GDS), Folstein’s MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination), the Clock Test (CT) and the Eurotest. Epidemiological data were collected. The sample used in the study included 45 patients, 21 males and 24 females, with a mean age of 69.76 years; 34 were born in Spain and 11 abroad. Results. Diagnoses were 17 with mild cognitive impairment, 8 with Alzheimer's disease, 6 with age-associated impairment, 5 with vascular dementia, 5 with a psychiatric disorder, 1 with mixed dementia and 1 with dementia with Lewy bodies. The distribution according to the GDS was as follows: 10 with a GDS of 2, 18 with a GDS of 3, and 17 with a GDS of 4. All the patients with a GDS 2 completed the tests correctly, those with a GDS 3 scored below the cutoff point 5 for the Eurotest, 4 for the MMSE and 3 for CT, and in the GDS 4 they were 9, 7 and 6, respectively. Results did not vary between Spaniards and foreigners, the kappa index between MMSE and the Eurotest was 0.39 and the Pearson coefficient was 0.67. Conclusion. The Eurotest was slightly more useful in patients with a greater degree of impairmen (AU)