[Initial treatment of patients with subjective memory complaints and/or cognitive impairment in primary care: ISSEA Study]. / Tratamiento inicial de los pacientes con quejas subjetivas de memoria y/o deterioro cognitivo en atención primaria: estudio ISSEA.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the initial treatment of patients >60 years who had subjective memory complaints and/or cognitive impairment for at least 6 months. DESIGN: Observational, longitudinal, multicentre, and naturalistic study, with a follow-up period of 12 months. SETTING: A total of 105 primary care centres. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 921 patients who attended a clinic. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: In the baseline visit, the social demographic characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and the health care referrals were recorded, and in the next 2 (6 and 12 months) the diagnostic change, treatment, and referrals. RESULTS: The majority of subjects were female (66.9%) and the mean age was 74.3+/-6.8 years. In the initial visit, 50.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 47.3-53.7) of the diagnoses were classed as syndromic and 33.3% (95% CI, 30.3-36.3), aetiological. The primary care doctor modified an unconfirmed initial diagnosis in 22% (95% CI, 19.3-24.7) of the patients during the 12 months follow-up study. A diagnosis was made in 63.8% (95% CI, 60.7-66.9) of patients by anamnesis, physical examination, the screening test, and laboratory data. In the initial visit, el 52.6% (95% CI, 49.4-55.8) received treatment of mainly nootropics and neuroprotectors, and later, the percentage of patients on cholinesterase inhibitors increased. The primary care doctor referred 54.9% (95% CI, 51.7-58.1) of the patients during the 12 months of the study. CONCLUSIONS: The primary care doctor diagnoses the majority of patients with the means available, mainly based on anamnesis, examination, the screening test, and laboratory data. They prescribe drugs that lack efficacy for this disease and few of those that have been shown to be effective.

Tratamiento inicial de los pacientes con quejas subjetivas de memoria y/o deterioro cognitivo en atención primaria: estudio ISSEA / Initial treatment of patients with subjective memory complaints and/or cognitive impairment in primary care: ISSEA study

Objetivo. Describir el tratamiento inicial de pacientes > 60 años con quejas subjetivas de memoria y/o deterioro cognitivo de al menos 6 meses de evolución. Diseño. Estudio observacional, longitudinal, multicéntrico y naturalístico, con un período de seguimiento de 12 meses. Emplazamiento. Un total de 105 centros de atención primaria. Participantes. Participaron 921 pacientes que acudieron a consulta. Mediciones principales. En la visita basal se recogieron las características sociodemográficas, el diagnóstico, el tratamiento y las derivaciones asistenciales, y en las 2 siguientes (6 y 12 meses), el cambio de diagnóstico, el tratamiento y las derivaciones. Resultados. El 66,9% de los sujetos eran mujeres y la edad media fue de 74,3 ± 6,8 años. En la visita inicial, el 50,5% (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 47,3-53,7) de los diagnósticos fue de tipo sindrómico y el 33,3% (IC del 95%, 30,3-36,3), etiológico. El médico de atención primaria modificó el diagnóstico de sospecha inicial en el 22% (IC del 95%, 19,3-24,7) de los pacientes durante el año de seguimiento del estudio. El 63,8% (IC del 95%, 60,7-66,9) de los pacientes fue diagnosticado a través de la anamnesis, la exploración física, el test de cribado y los datos de laboratorio. En la visita inicial, el 52,6% (IC del 95%, 49,4-55,8) de los pacientes recibían tratamiento, principalmente nootropos y neuroprotectores, y más tarde aumentó el porcentaje de pacientes con inhibidores de la colinesterasa. Durante los 12 meses de estudio, el médico de atención primaria remitió a un 54,9% (IC del 95%, 51,7-58,1) de los pacientes. Conclusiones. El médico de atención primaria diagnostica a la mayoría de los pacientes con los medios disponibles, basándose fundamentalmente en la anamnesis, la exploración, el test de cribado y los datos de laboratorio. Se prescriben fármacos que carecen de eficacia en esta enfermedad y pocos de los que han demostrado eficacia

Objective. To describe the initial treatment of patients >60 years who had subjective memory complaints and/or cognitive impairment for at least 6 months. Design. Observational, longitudinal, multicentre, and naturalistic study, with a follow-up period of 12 months. Setting. A total of 105 primary care centres. Participants. The study included 921 patients who attended a clinic. Main measurements. In the baseline visit, the social demographic characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and the health care referrals were recorded, and in the next 2 (6 and 12 months) the diagnostic change, treatment, and referrals. Results. The majority of subjects were female (66.9%) and the mean age was 74.3±6.8 years. In the initial visit, 50.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 47.3-53.7) of the diagnoses were classed as syndromic and 33.3% (95% CI, 30.3-36.3), aetiological. The primary care doctor modified an unconfirmed initial diagnosis in 22% (95% CI, 19.3-24.7) of the patients during the 12 months follow-up study. A diagnosis was made in 63.8% (95% CI, 60.7-66.9) of patients by anamnesis, physical examination, the screening test, and laboratory data. In the initial visit, el 52.6% (95% CI, 49.4-55.8) received treatment of mainly nootropics and neuroprotectors, and later, the percentage of patients on cholinesterase inhibitors increased. The primary care doctor referred 54.9% (95% CI, 51.7-58.1) of the patients during the 12 months of the study. Conclusions. The primary care doctor diagnoses the majority of patients with the means available, mainly based on anamnesis, examination, the screening test, and laboratory data. They prescribe drugs that lack efficacy for this disease and few of those that have been shown to be effective