Efficient screening of cognitive dysfunction in stroke patients: comparison between the CAMCOG and the R-CAMCOG, Mini Mental State Examination and Functional Independence Measure-cognition score.

Background: The CAMCOG is a valid screening instrument for cognitive dysfunction in stroke patients but too time-consuming to be used by physicians in acute or post-acute care settings. The aim of this study was to identify a shorter cognitive screening test or combination of tests that yields the same results as the CAMCOG.

Methods: A total of 169 stroke patients completed the CAMCOG and the abbreviated Rotterdam-CAMCOG (R-CAMCOG), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the cognitive part of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM cognition) after admission to clinical rehabilitation and 1 year after stroke. The CAMCOG score was used as criterion standard for validity.

Results: Spearman correlations with the CAMCOG were very strong for the R-CAMCOG (both 0.92), strong for the MMSE (0.66 and 0.69) and moderate to weak for the FIM cognition (0.35 and 0.27). Stepwise linear regression analyses showed that, at admission, the R-CAMCOG explained 83% of the variance in the CAMCOG. The MMSE and R-CAMCOG together explained 87%. At 1 year after stroke the correlations and explained variances were similar.

Conclusion: The recently constructed R-CAMCOG appears an efficient alternative for the CAMCOG as a screening tool for cognitive dysfunction of stroke patients.