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An Epidemiological Study of Dementia in a Rural Community in Kerala, India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

S. Shaji ,
K. Promodu ,
Tony Abraham ,
K. Jacob Roy  and
Abraham Verghese
S. Shaji*
Affiliation:
N. V. P. Medical Centre
K. Promodu
Affiliation:
N. V. P. Medical Centre
Tony Abraham
Affiliation:
N. V. P. Medical Centre
K. Jacob Roy
Affiliation:
Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India, Thevanal Valley, Vettickal P. O., Mulanthuruthy
Abraham Verghese
Affiliation:
N. V. P. Medical Centre
*
Dr. S. Shaji, N. V. P. Medical Centre, Thevanal Valley, Vettickal P. O., Mulanthuruthy, Ernakulam District, Pin: 682314, Kerala, India
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Abstract

Background

This community-based epidemiologic study of dementia in a rural population in India investigated the prevalence of various dementing disorders in the community, psychosocial correlates of the morbidity, and assessment of the risk factors associated with dementia.

Method

A door to door survey was conducted to identify elderly people aged 60 and above. A total of 2067 elderly persons were then screened with a vernacular adaptation of the MMSE. All those who scored 23 and below had a detailed neuropsychological evaluation by CAMDEX–Section B, and the care-givers of the people with confirmed cognitive impairment were interviewed using CAMDEX–Section H to confirm the history of deterioration or impairment in social or personal functioning. In the third phase the subjects with confirmed cognitive impairment were evaluated at home as to whether they satisfied the DSM–III–R criteria for dementia. Subcategorisation of dementia was done based on ICD–10 diagnostic criteria. Five per cent of those whose screening was negative were randomly selected and evaluated during each stage.

Results

Sixty-six cases of dementia were identified from 2067 persons aged 60 and above, a prevalence rate of 31.9 per thousand After correction this rate was 33.9 per thousand. Fifty-eight per cent of the dementia cases were diagnosed as vascular dementia and 41% satisfied the criteria for ICD–10 dementia in Alzheimer's disease. There were more women in the Alzheimer's disease group; smoking and hypertension were associated with vascular dementia while a family history of dementia was more likely in the Alzheimer's group.

Conclusion

Dementia is an important cause of morbidity in the geriatric population in this community, where families take responsibility for the care of relatives with dementia.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 168 , Issue 6 , June 1996 , pp. 745 - 749
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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