Prevalence of potentially reversible dementias in a dementia outpatient clinic of a tertiary university-affiliated hospital in Brazil
Arq. neuropsiquiatr
; 61(4): 925-929, Dec. 2003. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-352427
Responsible library:
BR1.1
RESUMO
The importance of investigating the etiology for dementia lies in the possibility of treating potentially reversible dementias. The aims of this retrospective study are to determine the prevalence of potentially reversible dementias among 454 outpatients seen at the Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology Unit, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo University School of Medicine - Brazil, between the years of 1991 and 2001, and observe their evolution in follow-up. Among the initial 454 patients, 275 fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for dementia. Alzheimer's disease was the most frequent diagnosis (164 cases; 59.6 percent). Twenty-two cases (8.0 percent) of potentially reversible dementia were observed, the most frequent diagnoses being neurosyphilis (nine cases) and hydrocephalus (six cases). Full recovery was observed in two patients and partial recovery in 10 patients. Two cases were not treated and eight cases were lost on follow-up. The prevalence found in the present study falls within the range reported in previous studies (0-30 percent)
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Dementia
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Etiology study
/
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Arq. neuropsiquiatr
Journal subject:
Neurology
/
Psychiatry
Year:
2003
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
University of São Paulo School of Medicine/BR