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Abstract Introduction Telehealth consists in the application of technology to provide remote health service. This resource is considered safe and effective and has attracted an exponential interest in the context of the COVID pandemic. Expanded to dizzy patients, it would be able to provide diagnosis and treatment, minimizing the risk of disease transmission. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common vestibular disorder. The diagnosis typically rests on the description of the symptoms along with the nystagmus observed at a well-established positional testing. Objectives The aim of the present study was to propose a teleconsultation and teletreatment protocol to manage patients with BPPV during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Specialists in the vestibular field met through remote access technologies to discuss the best strategy to manage BPPV patients by teleconsultation and teletreatment system. Additionally, several scientific sources were consulted. Technical issues, patient safety, and clinical assessment were independently analyzed. All relevant information was considered in order to design a clinical protocol to manage BPPV patients in the pandemic context. Results Teleconsultation for BPPV patients requires a double way (video and audio) digital system. An adapted informed consent to follow good clinical practice statements must be considered. The time, trigger and target eye bedside examination (TiTRaTe) protocol has proven to be a valuable first approach. The bow and lean test is the most rational screening maneuver for patients with suspected positional vertigo, followed by most specific maneuvers to diagnostic the sub-variants of BPPV. Conclusion Although with limited evidence, teleconsultation and teletreatment are both reasonable and feasible strategies for the management of patients with BPPV in adverse situations for face-to-face consultation.
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ABSTRACT. The MoCA is a brief useful test to diagnose mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia (MD). To date, no Argentine cross-cultural adapted validations of the Spanish version have been reported. Objective: To validate the MoCA in the elderly and study its usefulness in MCI and MD. Methods: This study included 399 individuals over 60 years old evaluated in the Cognitive-Behavioral Department (2017-2018). Patients with<3 years of education, sensory disturbances, psychiatric disorders, or moderate-severe dementia were excluded. The control group comprised cognitively normal subjects. Participants were classified according to neuropsychological assessment and clinical standard criteria into Control, MCI or MD groups. A locally adapted MoCA (MOCA-A) was administered to the patients and controls. Results: Mean educational level was 10.34 years (SD 3.5 years). MoCA-A score differed significantly among groups (p<0.0001). MoCA-A performance correlated with educational level (r: 0.406 p<0.00001). Adopting a cut-off score ≥25 (YI=0.55), the sensitivity for MCI was 84.8% and for MD 100%, with specificity of 69.7%. When adding a single point to the score in patients with ≤12 years of education, the specificity of the test reached 81%. Conclusion: The MoCA-A is an accurate reliable screening test for MCI and MD in Argentina.
RESUMO. O MoCA é um teste breve e útil para diagnosticar comprometimento cognitivo leve (CCL) e demência leve. Até o momento, nenhuma validação argentina com adaptação transcultural da versão em espanhol havia sido relatada. Objetivo: Validar o MoCA em idosos e estudar sua utilidade no CCL e demência leve. Métodos: Este estudo incluiu 399 indivíduos acima de 60 anos avaliados no departamento cognitivo-comportamental (2017-2018). Foram excluídos pacientes com menos de 3 anos de escolaridade, com distúrbios sensoriais, distúrbios psiquiátricos e demência moderada a grave. O grupo controle foi cognitivamente normal. Eles foram classificados de acordo com a avaliação neuropsicológica e os critérios clínicos padrão em Controles, MCI e demência leve. A versão adaptada do MoCA (MOCA-A) foi administrado aos pacientes e controles. Resultados: Média de escolaridade: 10,34 anos (DP: 3,5). O escore MoCA-A foi significativamente diferente entre os grupos (p<0,0001). O MoCA-A correlacionou-se com a escolaridade (r=0,406 p<0,00001). Com uma pontuação de corte ≥25 (IY=0,55), a sensibilidade para CCL foi de 84,8% e para demência leve 100%, com especificidade de 69,7%. Adicionando um ponto único à pontuação em pacientes com menos de 12 anos de escolaridade, a especificidade do teste atingiu 81%. Conclusão: O MoCA-A é um teste de rastreamento preciso e confiável para MCI e demência leve na Argentina.
Subject(s)
Humans , Mental Status and Dementia Tests , Dementia , Alzheimer Disease , Cognitive DysfunctionABSTRACT
La neuritis vestibular es la segunda causa de vértigo periférico. Clínicamente se manifiesta como una falla vestibular aguda, con vértigo, desequilibrio y síntomas autonómicos. Hay evidencia a favor de una etiología viral de este proceso, sin embargo también podría ser un mecanismo mixto (inflamatorio y vascular). El tratamiento indicado es sintomático, no existen recomendaciones con respecto al uso de esteroides y/o antivirales. El pronóstico general es bueno con recuperación funcional en algunas semanas