Validating screening instruments for cognitive impairment in older South Asians in the United Kingdom.
BACKGROUND
The numbers of older South Asians in the United Kingdom are rising. Investigation of their mental health has been neglected compared to their physical health.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of modified versions of two screening instruments for cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination and Abbreviated Mental Test) in a community-based population.


METHODS
Two-stage study comparing screening instruments against diagnostic interview.


METHODS
South, central and north Manchester.


METHODS
Community-resident South Asians aged 60 years and over.


METHODS
Subjects were approached via their general practitioners and interviewed at home. Sensitivity and specificity for the screening instruments were calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.


RESULTS
For the Gujarati population, the MMSE cutoff was >/=24 (sensitivity 100%, specificity 95%) and AMT>/=6 (sensitivity 100%, specificity 95%). For the Pakistani population, the MMSE cutoff was >/=27 (sensitivity 100%, specificity 77%) and AMT>/=7 (sensitivity 100%, specificity 87%).


CONCLUSIONS
Culturally modified versions of the Mini-Mental State Examination and Abbreviated Mental Test are acceptable and may have a high degree of sensitivity. They may assist with the recognition of cognitive impairment, if an appropriate cutoff is used.
Rait
G
G
Department of Primary Care & Population Sciences, Royal Free and University College London Medical School, London, UK. g.rait@ucl.ac.uk
Burns
A
A
Baldwin
R
R
Morley
M
M
Chew-Graham
C
C
St Leger
A S
AS
D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008609:Mental Status Schedule / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000208:ethnology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D006113:United Kingdom