[Dementia diagnosis in general practice]. / Demensdiagnostik i almen praksis.

In a follow-up study eight GPs prospectively examined 36 strategically selected patients. As diagnostic tools psychometric tests, blood samples and physical examination including a CT-scan of the brain were used. After one year the surviving patients were reexamined with respect to cognitive testing, ADL-function and signs of depression. A panel of experts evaluated the records. The GPs found 19 patients to be demented, five patients possibly demented and five not demented. The experts found 21 demented, three possibly demented and five not demented. After the first examination the GPs and the experts found two patients with possible reversible dementia. However, the patients did not improve concerning their cognitive function despite relevant medical treatment. The degree of dementia was estimated by the GPs as being ten patients with light, ten with moderate and two with severe dementia, while the experts respectively found eight, 13 and two with the same items.

Oral health status and needs for dental treatment in geriatric patients in a Danish district hospital.

Oral health status and dental treatment needs were investigated in 50 randomly selected patients in the geriatric department of a Danish district hospital. All the participants were examined clinically and radiologically. Oral health status was generally poor. Ten participants required no dental treatment. The remaining 40 participants needed some kind of treatment, mainly prosthetic and surgical. The 40 participants requiring treatment were all asked whether or not they wanted the proposed treatment. Only 18 were interested. The participants were divided into three groups according to their medical status. 28 participants had a poor medical status. It was estimated that these patients once having left the hospital would never be able to visit a dentist on their own initiative, and therefore should be treated institutionally.