Utility of online cognitive test in cognitive neurology unit
Background Delirium is one of the most common complications in hospitalized elders and corresponds with a higher risk of cognitive decline and death. Numerous test batteries exist to assist clinicians in detecting delirium, but it continues to be undiagnosed in up to 88% of patients, particularly th...
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Published in | Alzheimer's & dementia Vol. 18; no. S7 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
01.12.2022
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Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Background
Delirium is one of the most common complications in hospitalized elders and corresponds with a higher risk of cognitive decline and death. Numerous test batteries exist to assist clinicians in detecting delirium, but it continues to be undiagnosed in up to 88% of patients, particularly those with AD where “confusion” is mistakenly attributed to impaired baseline (1). This pilot study investigated the utility of a digital cognitive assessment (D‐Cog), in the form of an iPad game, which would allow for rapid and routine baseline testing in patients with AD so that delirium‐induced changes can be easily detected.
Method
While collecting traditional vital signs, medical assistants in the Beth Israel Deaconess Center (BIDMC) Cognitive Neurology Unit (CNU) prompted 67 willing patients to complete the D‐Cog assessment, an adaptive visuospatial span task, on an iPad. We then retrospectively reviewed the medical records of each patient to collect diagnosis, demographics, and pen‐and‐paper neuropsychological scores (e.g., MoCA or MMSE). Of the 67 patients (mean age 67, 29 female), 22 were clinically diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or varying severities of AD.
Result
The assessment was successfully completed by 52 participants. 15 participants, including 5 participants with moderate AD, experienced great difficulty during the task and were subsequently excluded. The 17 included participants with AD (mean age 75, 6 female) averaged a D‐Cog score of 4.1 and a MMSE score of 23.1. In comparison, a control group with no cognitive concerns (n = 16, mean age 60, 9 female) garnered a 6.7 average D‐Cog score and 29.3 MMSE score. The difference in D‐Cog scores was significantly different at p = 0.001.
Conclusion
The D‐Cog assessment is feasible in clinical practice for patients with a wide range of cognitive impairments. These scores can act as an attentional baseline to compare against later testing in the event of suspected delirium. While the D‐Cog is derived from traditional pen‐and‐paper testing, its digital framework offers new opportunities for adaptive and remote testing.
Reference
Fong TG, Davis D, Grodon ME, Albuquerque A, Inouye SK. The interface between delirium and dementia in elderly adults. Lancet Neruol. 2015; 14(8): 823–32 |
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ISSN: | 1552-5260 1552-5279 |
DOI: | 10.1002/alz.068010 |