Comparison of predictive power of different dementia risk assessment tools for Alzheimer's disease in Chinese elders

Abstract

Objective To compare the predictive and applicable power of 3 dementia risk assessment tools for Alzheimer's disease in Chinese elders. Methods In this case-control study, totally 80 elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease hospitalized in 5 hospitals in Beijing from May 2013 to August 2018 were selected by convenient sampling as the case group, while 80 elders with normal cognitive function were randomly selected as the control group from the same region. Clinical data of both groups were collected, and the subjects' morbidity risk of Alzheimer's disease was assessed using Barnes Model, Australian National University Alzheimer's Disease Risk Index (ANU-ADRI) and Chinese Alzheimer's Disease Risk Assessment Model (C-ADRA) . The predictive power of different assessment tools was thus compared. Results There was significant difference in family history of dementia, craniocerebral injury, hearing disorder, depression, lifestyle as well as some physiological and biochemical criteria between case and control groups. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of C-ADRA in predicting Alzheimer's disease in Chinese elders was better than that of Barnes and ANU-ADRI models. Conclusions C-ADRA has a better predictive power for Alzheimer's disease in Chinese elders. Targeted prevention may be provided for patients according to the results of risk assessment, thus promising a guarantee for the prevention and control of Alzheimer's disease in clinical nursing and prevention. Key words: Alzheimer's disease; Aged; Dementia; Risk assessment; Forecasting