Epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical aspects of vascular dementia in the Neurology Department of the CHU Ignace DEEN.
Introduction: Vascular dementias (VD) are dementias caused by cerebrovascular lesions. Few data exist on this subject in tropical environments.
The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and the clinical and paraclinical aspects of vascular dementia at the Ignace DEEN University Hospital.
Material and methods:This was a cross-sectional descriptive study lasting two (2) years, from 01 March 2021 to 28 February 2023 in the neurology department of CHU Ignace DEEN (Guinea-Conakry). All patients meeting the criteria for probable vascular dementia according to the NINDS-AIREN (appendix) and for whom informed consent had been obtained from the responsible persons were included in our study. Patients with a history of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic adult hydrocephalus or encephalitis were excluded.
Results: We observed a hospital frequency of 38.46%. The mean age of our patients was 72.52 +/- 10.61 years. Males accounted for the majority, 76.66% (sex ratio 3.28). The educational level was pre-university in 32.5% of cases and 24.16% of patients had no schooling. Arterial hypertension was the most common cardiovascular risk factor, accounting for 64.17% (77 cases), followed by dyslipidasemia and diabetes, which accounted for 35.83% (43 cases) and 35% (42 cases) respectively. The main reasons for consultation were memory problems (77.5%), behavioural problems (65.8%) and reasoning problems (49.2%). Assessment of the MMSE revealed severe cognitive impairment in 35.83% (43 cases), moderate cognitive impairment in 43.33% (52 cases) and mild cognitive impairment in 20.83% (25 cases).
Conclusion: Vascular dementia is multiple, multifactorial and predominantly affects the elderly.
Keywords: Dementia, vascular, Ignace DEEN
