Investigation of the use of the CAMCOG in the visually impaired elderly.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of decreased visual acuity due to cataract on tests of cognitive function in the elderly.


METHODS
Patients at a precataract surgery assessment clinic were screened to exclude cognitive impairment. The CAMCOG was completed by 42 subjects, and the visual acuity for each eye assessed.


RESULTS
There was a significant correlation between visual acuity and the CAMCOG score, which was abolished when simple modifications were made to the CAMCOG. Although 5 subjects scored below the cut-off point, 3 with worse visual acuity scored within the cut-off.


CONCLUSIONS
Visual impairment has a significant effect on the scoring of the CAMCOG. However, the effect may not only be due to decreased visual acuity but also to other factors such as contrast sensitivity, which may be affected by cataract.
Hartman
J A
JA
Health Care of the Elderly, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014792:Visual Acuity