title: The quick confusion scale in the ED: comparison with the mini-mental state examination.
abstract: The Quick Confusion Scale (QCS) is a 6-item battery of questions focusing on orientation, memory, and concentration weighted to yield a top score of 15. Analysis of the QCS compared with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is needed to determine if the QCS is a valid marker of cognitive mental status. The MMSE and the QCS were administered to a convenience sample of 205 patients presenting to the emergency department. Exclusions included head trauma, multisystem trauma, Glasgow Coma Scale less than 15, non-English speaking, education level less than 8 years, contact or droplet isolation, acute illness, or incomplete data for reasons such as restricted patient access. Mean scores were 24.8(SD = 4.7; range 2-30) on the MMSE and 11.89 (SD = 3.5; range 0-15) on the QCS. QCS scores were significantly correlated (r = .783) with MMSE scores. The QCS appears comparable with the MMSE and is quicker to administer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908-0699, USA. jshuff@virginia.edu
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Huff
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Farace
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kheir
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shawver
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires