Dementia diagnoses incorrect
Almost a third of dementia diagnoses in Australia are incorrect, a medical expert from the Royal Australian College of Physicians has claimed. Dr Robert Prouse told a federal inquiry last Friday (22 June 2012) 30% of patients diagnosed with dementia were later found to be suffering from other conditions.
Almost a third of dementia diagnoses in Australia are incorrect, a medical expert from the Royal Australian College of Physicians has claimed.
Dr Robert Prouse told a federal inquiry last Friday (22 June 2012) 30% of patients diagnosed with dementia were later found to be suffering from other conditions.
Dr Prouse claimed other conditions such as depression could mimic the symptoms of dementia.
“There’s a whole range of things that can present as cognitive decline that need to be tested along the way and that’s where specialists come into it,” he told the inquiry in Sydney.
“It’s probably common enough to say a third of patients improve, lose their depression and have a new outlook on life.”
AAP reported Dr Prouse as saying he had also treated a number of patients who suffered from breathing problems during their sleep who had been able to move out of aged care facilities and return to the community once their sleep apnoea had improved.
“We’ve had a number of people who have had significant cognitive decline. By treating their sleep apnoea and improving nocturnal oxygenation, they’ve come back to normal.”
The inquiry by the House of Representatives Health and Ageing Committee is examining whether dementia should be made a National Health Priority Area due to its growing prevalence in communities.
Have you or a loved one experienced a medical misdiagnosis? Share your thoughts on Dr Prouse’s claims by commenting in the box below.
