Are Geriatrics-Focused Primary Care Clinics Better at Diagnosing Dementia Than Traditional Clinics? A Matched Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are prevalent but underdiagnosed.

Objective

To compare new dementia/MCI diagnosis rates in geriatrics-focused primary care clinics and traditional primary care clinics.

Design

Secondary analysis of a prospective matched cohort study that spanned 2017-2021.

Participants

Community-dwelling Veterans over 65 receiving primary care in a geriatrics-focused medical home (GeriPACT) or traditional primary care home (PACT) at one of 57 Veterans Affairs sites. We excluded individuals with a documented diagnosis of dementia or MCI in the year prior to enrollment.

Main measures

Diagnoses obtained from EHR. Cognitive status was assessed using modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (mTICS) tool.

Key

SUBMITTER: Perfect CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10506971 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature