title: Patient-rated versus proxy-rated cognitive and functional measures in older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with cognitive impairment may have difficulty reporting their functional and cognitive abilities, which are important clinical outcomes. Health care proxies may be able to corroborate patient self-reports. Several studies reported discrepancy between patient and proxy ratings, though the literature is sparse on changes over time of these ratings. Our goals in this 12-month study were to compare patient and proxy reports on functioning, cognition, and everyday executive function, and to further elucidate correlates of patient-proxy discrepancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cohort study of individuals older than 70 years who ranged from having no cognitive impairment to having moderate dementia who had a proxy available to complete instruments at baseline (N=76). Measurements included Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living Inventory (ADCS-ADLI), Neuro-QOL Executive Function, PROMIS Applied Cognition (PROMIS-Cog), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Geriatric Depression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient- and proxy-rated ADCS-ADLI were correlated at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Patient and proxy ratings were discrepant on Neuro-QOL Executive Function and PROMIS-Cog. Greater patient-proxy discrepancy on PROMIS-Cog was associated with younger age and less depression, and greater patient-proxy discrepancy on Neuro-QOL Executive Function was associated with less depression and worse cognitive impairment. Patient-proxy discrepancy increased over time for everyday executive function. Changes in proxy-rated but not patient-rated ADCS-ADLI correlated with MMSE changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients and proxies generally agree in reporting on activities of daily living. Patient and proxy reports differ in their respective evaluation of cognitive functioning and everyday executive function. Ratings from both sources may be preferred for these two domains, though studies using gold standard measures are necessary. It is important that clinicians are aware of the differences between patient and proxy perspective to create an accurate clinical picture and guide treatment.
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Howland
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Caitlin E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Carlton
authors.affiliation: Neurological and Behavioral Outcomes Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Department of Neurology.
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tatsuoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Neurological and Behavioral Outcomes Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center; Department of Neurology; Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sajatovic
keywords: activities of daily living; agreement; caregiver; dementia; executive function