Undiagnosed diseases in patients with dementia--a potential target group for intervention.
OBJECTIVE
To study undiagnosed diseases in older people with and without dementia.


METHODS
Cross-sectional population-based study in Lieto, southwestern Finland.


METHODS
All the inhabitants aged 64 and more in Lieto. Participation rate was 82% (n = 1,260).


METHODS
Dementia and its subtypes were diagnosed according to prevailing criteria. Medical conditions were assessed in clinical examinations and from medical records.


RESULTS
112 patients with dementia were found; 66% of them had at least 1 undiagnosed disease compared to 48% of the non-demented group (p = 0.041). The demented subjects had more undiagnosed hypercholesterolaemia (p = 0.039) and undiagnosed hypothyroidism (p = 0.032) than the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Undiagnosing is more common among patients with dementia. Screening strategies should be developed further to find these patients.
Department of General Practice, University of Turku, Turku City Hospital, Turku, Finland. minna.lopponen@utu.fi
Minna K
MK
Löppönen
Raimo E
RE
Isoaho
Ismo J
IJ
Räihä
Tero J
TJ
Vahlberg
Saila M
SM
Loikas
Timo I
TI
Takala
Hannu
H
Puolijoki
Kerttu M
KM
Irjala
Sirkka-Liisa
SL
Kivelä
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods