<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/b><\/p>\n
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) administered within seven days after stroke can predict long-term cognitive and functional outcome and mortality, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in Neurology<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Vera Zietemann, Ph.D., from Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, and colleagues administered MoCA to 274 patients from two prospective hospital-based cohort studies in Germany (125 participants) and France (149 participants). At six, 12, and 36 months after stroke, cognitive and functional outcomes, and all-cause mortality were assessed.<\/p>\n
In pooled analyses, the researchers found that across the three-year follow-up, baseline MoCA score <26 correlated with cognitive impairment defined by neuropsychological testing (odds ratio, 5.30) and by Clinical Dementia Rating scale score \u22650.5 (odds ratio, 2.53); functional impairment defined by modified Rankin Scale score >2 (odds ratio, 5.03) and by Instrumental Activities of Daily Living score <8 (odds ratio, 2.48); and with mortality (hazard ratio, 7.24). Across all prespecified cognitive domains (executive function\/attention, memory, language, visuospatial ability), worse performance was seen for patients with MoCA score <26. The area under the curve for prediction of cognitive impairment and functional impairment was increased with MoCA.<\/p>\n
“Given the brevity of the test and its feasibility in the setting of acute stroke, our findings support the use of the MoCA as a routine clinical tool to identify high-risk patients who might benefit from close monitoring,” the authors write.<\/p>\n
Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n