Epidemiological Stydy Of Dementia After Retirement

Dementia is a common and devastating major health problem. In fact, epidemiological data about the prevalence of dementia are deficient in Egypt. This hospital-based study was carried out in Health Insurance out patient clinic in Sharkia governorate during a three years period .A three phase study was carried out to screen 1800 subjects aged 60 years and above (1098 males and 702 females) among them 1134 subject from rural and 666 from urban areas .During phase I all subjects were administrated standardized MiniMental state Examination (SMMSE).The cut-off point S 23 was used in order to detect suspected demented subjects for educated persons and :$ 21 for illiterate persons. In phase II, all screened positive subjects were clinically evaluated by diagnostic protocol to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of dementia depending on DSM IV diagnostic criteria for diagnosis of dementia. The diagnostic protocol included personal and caregiver interview with complete history taking, clinical examination, Neuropsychiatric scales application [Blessed Dementia scale (B.D.S), Clinical Dementia Rating scale (C.O.R) and geriatric depression scale (G.D.S)]. We diagnosed dementia only in 66 subjects yielding a crude prevalence rate of dementia of all types (DOAT) of 3.66%. from the remaining screened negative subjects we selected 30 age and sex matched who served as controls.