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Title: | The Prevalence of dementia in a semi-urban population in Sri Lanka : report from a regional survey |
Authors: | de Silva, H.A. Gunatilake, S.B. Smith, A.D. |
Keywords: | Alzheimer Disease Dementia-epidemiology Cohort Studies Prevalence Sri Lanka-epidemiology |
Issue Date: | 2003 |
Publisher: | John Wiley |
Citation: | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2003; 18(8): pp.711-715 |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND: The prevalence of dementia in Sri Lanka, which has a rapidly ageing population, is unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias in a semi-urban elderly Sinhala-speaking population in Ragama, Sri Lanka. METHODS: The study was conducted in two phases. Phase I: After informed consent 703 subjects aged > or =65 years from the study area (population 15 828) were screened for cognitive impairment using the Sinhalese Mini Mental State Examination. Subjects scoring < or =17 were regarded as suspected dementia cases. Phase II: All subjects who screened positive in phase I were included in phase II for detailed evaluation fordementia according DSM IV and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria which included structured neuropsychiatric assessment, laboratory investigations, an axial CT scan of the brain and an informant interview. RESULTS: In the study sample, 61% were female and 86% were between 65-75 years. 42 subjects screened positive in phase I. Of these, 28 subjects were diagnosed as having dementia, giving an overall prevalence rate of 3.98% (95% Confidence Intervals (CI) =2.6-5.7%). Of these, 20 (71.4%) had probable AD, four had vascular dementia (14.3%), two had mixed (vascular and AD) dementia (7.1%), one had Lewy body dementia, and one had dementia due to syphilis. Greater age, illiteracy and female gender were associated with higher prevalence of dementia. CONCLUSION: Comparison with other community studies performed in North India suggests that dementia prevalence is higher in Sri Lanka. This may be due to regional differences in disease incidence. |
Description: | Indexed in MEDLINE |
URI: | http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1548 |
ISSN: | 0885-6230 (Print) 1099-1166 (Electronic) |
Appears in Collections: | Journal/Magazine Articles |
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