[The Cambridge Cognitive Examination as a tool for detection of dementia]

The efficiency of Cambridge Cognitive Examination' (CAMCOG) is analyzed as a tool to detect dementias in epidemiological studies.

The data were obtained from subjects who enrolled the second phase on a door-to-door field epidemiological study. The tool used was the 'Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly Examination' (CAMDEX).

From the total sample of 602 subjects, 189 (31%) were men and the remaining 413 (69%) were women. The age average was 77.21 +/- 6.18 for the men group and 78.76 +/- 5.98 for the women group. The cut-off point that obtained best efficacy was 59/60. A multiple regression analysis was made using CAMCOG total scoring as the dependent variable and clinical diagnosis, age, sex and scholarship as independent variables. All the variables intermediate on CAMCOG total scoring with a multiple correlation coefficient (R) of 0.7061 (p < 0.0000). Five of the twelve CAMCOG subareas were efficient with a significance level of p > 0.0000, classifying correctly the 82.56% of the subjects.

The CAMCOG is a moderate efficient total to discriminate dementia from no dementia on epidemiological studies.