J Med Assoc Thai 2015; 98 (9):916

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Original ArticleOpen Access
The Distribution of Thai Mental State Examination Scores among Non-Demented Elderly in Suburban Bangkok Metropolitan and Associated Factors
Muangpaisan W Mail, Assantachai P , Sitthichai K , Richardson K , Brayne C

Objective: To obtain the distribution of Thai Mental State Examination (TMSE) scores in the Thai population across different age groups and educational levels in men and women aged 50 years and older and its relationship with demographic factors. The different cutpoints in literate and illiterate participants and item performance in both groups were also determined.

Material and Method: Community-dwelling participants aged 50 years and over were invited to join the study. Personal information, general health history, and specific illness questionnaires including the activities of daily living, designed by the Survey in Europe on Nutrition and the Elderly, a Concerted Action (SENECA), and the Thai Mental State Examination (TMSE) were completed in the face-to-face interview.

Results: There were 4,459 participants with no specific reported conditions that could potentially influence cognitive performance. The mean (SD) age was 64.2 (7.9) years and most participants were women (71.7%). The median (interquartile range) of the TMSE was 27 (25-29) and 23 (19-26) in literate and illiterate participants, respectively. The distribution of TMSE scores were reported here determined by age, gender, and educational level. Percentage of correct response in each TMSE item was low in recall and calculation performance. TMSE score declined with age in both genders and had greater variation with increasing age. TMSE score also increased with increasing levels of education and better financial status. Gender was not associated with the TMSE score adjusting for age, educational level, and economic status.

Conclusion: Age, education, and economic status have an influence on the TMSE performance. Controlling for these three factors, genders does not contribute to significant differences in TMSE performance. Norms adjusted for these factors should be considered before employing single cutpoints to identify impairment.

Keywords: Mental status, Cognitive function, Community, Elderly, Norm


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