Prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in chinese older persons with mild cognitive impairment-a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the point prevalence and correlates of neuropsychiatric (NP) symptoms among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and normal cognition (NC) in a Chinese community.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study derived from a population-based prevalence study of MCI and dementia.


METHODS
This survey was conducted in Hong Kong from 2005 to 2006. Seven hundred eighty-eight community-dwelling older adults (450 NC and 338 MCI) were recruited. Cognitive and NP data were obtained.


RESULTS
The point prevalence of at least one NP symptom in NC and MCI were 29% and 36.7%, respectively (logistic regression controlled for age and education, odds ratio = 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.89, Wald χ = 4.10, df = 1, p = 0.04). Agitation (1.8% versus 5.1%), apathy (7.6% versus 15.2%), and irritability (4.2% versus 8%) were more prevalent in subjects with MCI (p <0.05). Logistic regression analyses showed that apathy score was a significant factor associated with the status of NC or MCI (logistic regression, apathy, p = 0.031, Exp(B) = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.02-1.47; Hosmer and Lemeshow test, χ = 8.6, df = 8, p = 0.38, R = 0.23).


CONCLUSIONS
The authors reported the findings of one of the first population-based studies estimating the point prevalence of NP symptoms in Asian older adults with MCI. Taking into account of its prevalence and magnitude of effects, apathy is a clinically significant symptom in MCI. Its predictive value for conversion to dementia warrants further evaluation.
Chan
Wai-Chi
WC
Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Castle Peak Hospital, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong SAR.
Lam
Linda Chiu-Wa
LC
Tam
Cindy Woon-Chi
CW
Lui
Victor Wing-Cheong
VW
Chan
Sandra Sau-Man
SS
Chan
Wai-Man
WM
Chiu
Helen Fung-Kum
HF
D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence