title: Modified Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) as a screening test for dementia for Thai elderly.
abstract: A potential test for early detection of dementia in the elderly is the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE), which is based on information from the informant for the elderly about the changes of the elderly in everyday cognitive functioning associated with dementia. The present study aimed to modify and assess the reliability and validity of the modified IQCODE consisting of 32 items. The study consisted of two methods of assessing dementia: DSMIV diagnosis carried out by clinicians, and informants responding to the IQCODE. The subjects were 200 pairs of elderly subjects and their informants who visited the Geriatric Clinic, Ramathibodi Hospital. The optimal cutoff score on the modified IQCODE was 3.42, with 90% sensitivity and 95% specificity. The positive predictive values, negative predictive values, and accuracy were 0.94, 0.90, and 0.92, respectively. The IQCODE items had high internal consistency. The IQCODE associated with the elderly person's age, but not with their gender and educational level; nor were they associated with the demographic characteristics of the informant. Therefore, the IQCODE could be used as an alternative screening test for dementia in Thailand with acceptable sensitivity and specificity. This tool may be useful for dementia screening in the community and the geriatric clinic for early detection of disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sukhontha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siri
authors.forename: Kamolnetr
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okanurak
authors.forename: Sirintorn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chansirikanjana
authors.forename: Dwip
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kitayaporn
authors.forename: Dwip
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kitiyaporn
authors.forename: Anthony F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Jorm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand