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[Preliminary evaluation of a new screening test for dementia (Eurotest)]
C Carnero-Pardo1, M T Montoro-Ríos
1Servicio de Neurología, Hospital de Torrecárdenas, Almería, España. ccarnerop@supercable.es
Introduction:
The changeover to the new currency has meant that the Money test, a screening test for dementia with a number of advantages over those currently available, is now of no use.
Aims:
Our aim was to perform a preliminary evaluation of the Eurotest, which is a version of the Money test adapted to the new currency system.
Design:
phase I, diagnostic evaluation (convenience sampling; pre-test prevalence 50%).
Subjects:
>65 years with no sensory deficit; 30 with mild dementia and 30 without dementia.
Method:
evaluation of socio-demographic variables and of mini-mental performance (MMSE), Pfeiffer's test (SPMSQ), the seven-minute test (7MT) and Eurotest. Statistical study: comparison between groups using t test and chi squared, depending on the variables; determination of diagnostically useful parameters and ROC curves, with their respective 95% confidence intervals; linear regression study with a step by step strategy.
Results:
The groups did not differ as regards age, sex, level of schooling, degree of literacy, employment and knowledge of money systems. The Eurotest has a sensitivity of 0.93 (0.76-0.99) and a specificity of 0.87 (0.68-0.96), which is similar to that of the MMSE and the 7MT. The Eurotest (6.77 +/- 1.65 min) takes less time than the 7MT (8.87 +/- 1.81 min) and is not modified by the subject's clinical situation. The level of schooling does not affect the results of the Eurotest.
Conclusions:
The Eurotest is simple, quick, valid, useful and is unaffected by the level of schooling, which are features that make it a valid alternative to the tests currently available.
