title: Dementia Still Diagnosed Too Late - Data from the Czech Republic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The goal of the study is to evaluate the sensitivity of Czech physicians to the early diagnosis of dementia in patients with memory impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective observational study was designed. We have reviewed the electronic medical records of patients who have been hospitalized for the first time due to dementia of any type at the Kromeriz Mental hospital from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2013 (24-month period). Pluralistic methods combining the qualitative and quantitative approach were used in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dementia of any type was diagnosed in 125 patients in the monitored period. The mean time between patient memory complaints and his / her admission to our facility for their first hospitalization due to dementia was 7.1 years (+- 3.7 years). Most patients with dementia had no prior outpatient treatment of their memory impairment (56.2%); a minority of patients (43.8%) had treatment of their memory impairment by an outpatient physician.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sensitivity of Czech physicians to the early diagnosis of dementia is very low. Any delay in starting the treatment of dementia means a worsened effectiveness of this treatment, a worsened quality of life of patients with dementia and their caregivers. Our recommendations for both the early diagnosis and treatment of dementia should be involved in guidelines and should become a part of the pregraduate and postgraduate education of all physicians.
authors.affiliation: 1. Dept. of Psychogeriatry, Mental hospital Kromeriz , Kromeriz, Czech Republic ; 2. Dept. of Social Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Palacky University , Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luzny
authors.affiliation: 3. Center of Longevity, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University in Prague , Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Holmerova
authors.affiliation: 3. Center of Longevity, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University in Prague , Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wija
authors.affiliation: 4. Dept. of Psychiatry, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava , Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ondrejka
keywords: Cognitive enhancers; Content analysis; Dementia; Electronic medical records