Prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in elderly patients with dementia in Mungialde County (Basque Country, Spain).
BACKGROUND
Determination of the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in elderly patients with dementia in Mungialde.


METHODS
108 subjects with dementia, who participated in a door-to-door epidemiological study, were included. The 12-item Spanish version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory was used to evaluate these symptoms.


RESULTS
The prevalence of at least 1 neuropsychiatric symptom was found to be 76.90% for all dementia types, 73.50% in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 80% for the Parkinson-Lewy body dementia complex (PLBD), 78.60% for vascular dementia (VD) and 100% for frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Apathy was found to be the most prevalent symptom for all dementia types and in patients with AD (53.70 and 54.30%, respectively). The next most prevalent symptoms were anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances (35.20, 32.40 and 30.60%) for all dementia types, and anxiety and depression (32.10 and 30.90%) in patients with AD. The most prevalent symptoms in patients with PLBD were apathy, appetite changes, sleep disturbances and agitation (50% each); in patients with VD they were apathy, depression and anxiety (42.90% each), and in patients with FTD they were apathy, anxiety and aberrant motor activity (100% each).


CONCLUSIONS
Neuropsychiatric symptoms were found to be prevalent in patients with dementia, irrespective of dementia type.
Fernández Martínez
Manuel
M
Department of Neurology, Hospital de Cruces, Baracaldo, Spain. mfernandezm@meditex.es
Castro Flores
Jéssica
J
Pérez de las Heras
Susana
S
Mandaluniz Lekumberri
Aitxiber
A
Gordejuela Menocal
María
M
Zarranz Imirizaldu
Juan José
JJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology