TY - JOUR

T1 - Assessment of cognition at home visits

AU - Hansen, Tina Bach

AU - Andersen, Kjeld

AU - Waldorff, Frans

AU - Stenager, Elsebeth

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Background and aimsDementia is not diagnosed in 20–50% of cases in high income countries. A diagnosis is essential for treatment and care, why early detection is part of national guidelines in Denmark.Municipalities offer preventive home visits to all people aged 75+ years, but cognition is not assessed systematically. The aim of this study is to assess cognition at home visits to initiate further examination for dementia when relevant.MethodsCognition was assessed with the validated Brief Assessment of Cognition Questionnaire in three municipalities from the 1/12022 to the 1/312023. The questionnaire included seven questions to the participant (75+ years) and three questions to a relative. Participants with suspected impaired cognition were motivated to contact their general practitioner to initiate further examination if relevant. Using registers, it will be investigated if assessment of cognition leads to detection of dementia.Participants and relatives were interviewed about their experiences.ResultsA total of 898 participated. Cognition was impaired in 125 (14%) and slightly impaired in 189 (21%) participants. Participants with impaired cognition were slightly older (median 82 years; iqr 80–85 years) than participants with normal or slightly impaired cognition (median 80; iqr 75–84).Interviews were conducted with 24 participants and 15 relatives. They were positive about the assessment, and were often confirmed in their perception of their cognition.ConclusionsIt is possible to assess cognition systematically at home visits, and it leads to conversations about dementia. Participants and relatives find it positive that cognition is assessed by a health worker.

AB - Background and aimsDementia is not diagnosed in 20–50% of cases in high income countries. A diagnosis is essential for treatment and care, why early detection is part of national guidelines in Denmark.Municipalities offer preventive home visits to all people aged 75+ years, but cognition is not assessed systematically. The aim of this study is to assess cognition at home visits to initiate further examination for dementia when relevant.MethodsCognition was assessed with the validated Brief Assessment of Cognition Questionnaire in three municipalities from the 1/12022 to the 1/312023. The questionnaire included seven questions to the participant (75+ years) and three questions to a relative. Participants with suspected impaired cognition were motivated to contact their general practitioner to initiate further examination if relevant. Using registers, it will be investigated if assessment of cognition leads to detection of dementia.Participants and relatives were interviewed about their experiences.ResultsA total of 898 participated. Cognition was impaired in 125 (14%) and slightly impaired in 189 (21%) participants. Participants with impaired cognition were slightly older (median 82 years; iqr 80–85 years) than participants with normal or slightly impaired cognition (median 80; iqr 75–84).Interviews were conducted with 24 participants and 15 relatives. They were positive about the assessment, and were often confirmed in their perception of their cognition.ConclusionsIt is possible to assess cognition systematically at home visits, and it leads to conversations about dementia. Participants and relatives find it positive that cognition is assessed by a health worker.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jns.2023.121364

DO - 10.1016/j.jns.2023.121364

M3 - Journal article

VL - 455

JO - Journal of the Neurological Sciences

JF - Journal of the Neurological Sciences

SN - 0022-510X

IS - Supplement 1

M1 - 121364

ER -