Comparing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale in a multicultural rehabilitation setting

Intern Med J. 2019 Aug;49(8):1035-1040. doi: 10.1111/imj.14392.

Abstract

In Australia it is recommended that all older people undergoing rehabilitation have a cognitive screen. We performed a longitudinal study comparing the correlation of two cognitive screening tools - the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) with discharge outcomes in a geriatric inpatient setting. The RUDAS cut-off (<23/30) was associated with discharge to a nursing home (sensitivity 52%, specificity 70%). This was also noted with a MoCA cut-off <18/30 (sensitivity 57%, specificity 69%). Furthermore the association between the RUDAS and discharge destination was independent of its association with the Functional Independence Measure (r = 0.116; P = 0.275) and had a shorter administration time. Both RUDAS and MoCA scores could be used as predictors of discharge destination in a multicultural population.

Keywords: Functional Assessment Staging; Functional Independence Measure score; Montreal Cognitive Assessment; Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale; rehabilitation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Australia
  • Cognition
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Cultural Diversity
  • Dementia / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mental Status and Dementia Tests / standards*
  • ROC Curve
  • Rehabilitation Centers
  • Sensitivity and Specificity