Behavioural and psychological symptoms among out-patients with different cognitive states: cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background: The study examines the behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSs) associated with dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), highlighting the prevalence and impact of these symptoms on individuals with varying levels of cognitive function, particularly in the context of the increasing incidence of dementia among the ageing population.

Aims: To explore the BPSs among out-patients with different cognitive statuses.

Method: This cross-sectional study enrolled out-patients who attended the cognitive assessment out-patient clinic at our hospital between January 2018 and October 2022. The patients' cognitive status was evaluated using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Activities of Daily Living and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic scales.

Results: The study enrolled 3273 out-patients, including 688 (21%) with cognitively unimpairment, 1831 (56%) with MCI and 754 (23%) with dementia. The NPI score, the percentage of patients with BPSs and the number of BPSs increased with decreasing cognition level. Unordered logistic regression analysis showed that after adjustment of confounding variables, delusions, depression, euphoria and psychomotor alterations were independently associated with MCI. Delusions, agitation, euphoria, apathy, psychomotor alterations and sleep change were independently associated with dementia.

Conclusions: NPI scores, the percentage of patients with BPSs and the numbers of BPSs increased with declining cognitive function.