Sharma Shruti, Ilse Christina, Brickell Kiri, Le Heron Campbell, Woods Keith, O'Mara Baker Ashleigh, Tippett Lynette, Curtis Maurice A, Ryan Brigid
Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2024 Jan-Dec;39:15333175241309525. doi: 10.1177/15333175241309525.
Timely diagnosis of young-onset dementia (YOD) is critical. This study aimed to identify factors that increased time to diagnosis at each stage of the diagnostic pathway. Participants were patients diagnosed with YOD (n = 40) and their care partners (n = 39). Information was obtained from questionnaires, and review of medical records. Mean time from symptom onset to YOD diagnosis was 3.6 ± 2 years. Suspicion of depression/anxiety at presentation was associated with significantly increased time from presentation to specialist referral. Neurologist-diagnosed YOD was the fastest route to a diagnosis, whereas diagnoses made by other specialists significantly increased the time from first specialist visit to diagnosis. By investigating multiple stages of the diagnostic pathway, we identified two factors that increased time to diagnosis: suspicion of depression/anxiety at presentation delayed specialist referral from primary care, and diagnosis by a specialist other than a neurologist delayed diagnosis of YOD.
及时诊断早发性痴呆（YOD）至关重要。本研究旨在确定在诊断途径的每个阶段增加诊断时间的因素。参与者为被诊断患有YOD的患者（n = 40）及其护理伙伴（n = 39）。信息通过问卷调查和病历审查获得。从症状出现到YOD诊断的平均时间为3.6±2年。就诊时怀疑患有抑郁/焦虑与从就诊到专科转诊的时间显著增加有关。由神经科医生诊断的YOD是最快的诊断途径，而由其他专科医生做出的诊断显著增加了从首次专科就诊到诊断的时间。通过调查诊断途径的多个阶段，我们确定了两个增加诊断时间的因素：就诊时怀疑患有抑郁/焦虑会延迟从初级保健机构的专科转诊，而非神经科医生的专科医生做出的诊断会延迟YOD的诊断。
