[Dementias in the primary care setting].

OBJECTIVE

To study the epidemiological, demographic, social and family, and clinical variables of the population suffering dementia in our health district.

DESIGN

A retrospective evaluation of medical records.

SETTING

A rural health district.

PATIENTS

All those patients with a diagnosis of dementia in 1995.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

The evaluation was based on primary care medical records. The prevalence of dementia in the over-65s ranged, according to the population group, between 1.29 and 5.19 per 100 inhabitants. 90.2% of patients with dementia remained living at home. Their average age was 79.8 (SD, 7.4). 57% had Alzheimer's disease. 40% were in advanced stages of the disease (stage III and IV). Only 26% of the patients were referred to Neurology in 1995. 35% of the patients took no medication for their dementia. 45.6% were included in a home care programme. The main carer was the son or daughter in 47.8% of cases. Expectation of life from when dementia was diagnosed was 5.53 (SD 4.64) years. Patients with dementia died in their own homes in 47% of cases, the main cause of death being infection.

CONCLUSIONS

In our rural environment most patients with dementia remained with their families. In most cases the aetiological diagnosis of dementia could be made from primary care.