Correlation analysis of the in-clinic and telephone batteries from the AREDS cognitive function ancillary study. AREDS Report No. 15.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the AREDS Telephone Battery can be substituted for the In-Clinic Cognitive Function Battery to assess cognitive function, so that participants could still provide follow-up information without having to come to the clinic.


METHODS
Correlation analysis was performed on scores of the following in-clinic and telephone administrations: 1) Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS), conducted in person vs. Telephone Interview Cognitive Status (TICS-M); 2) Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS-III), Logical Memory I and II; 3) Digits Backwards (a sub-test of the WMS-R); 4) Verbal Fluency; and 5) Letter Fluency (F,A,S).


RESULTS
A total of 1,738 AREDS participants completed an In-Clinic Battery and a Telephone Battery within twelve months. Significant positive correlations were found for all tests, ranging from rho = 0.89 between the 3MS and TICS-M scores (95% CI; 0.88 - 0.90), to rho = 0.71 for Letter Fluency (95% CI; 0.68 - 0.74).


CONCLUSIONS
The linear relationships between the In-Clinic Battery and Telephone Battery scores support the hypothesis that the Telephone Battery is an appropriate substitute for participants who are unable to complete an in-clinic assessment of cognitive function.
Rankin
Molly W
MW
The EMMES Corporation, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. aredspub@emmes.com
Clemons
Traci E
TE
McBee
Wendy L
WL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002386:Cataract / Q000517:prevention & control; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013689:Telephone; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000975:Antioxidants; D015032:Zinc