Contributions
Abstract: EP1551
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Neuropsychology
Introduction: Cognitive impairment (CI) has been recognized as an important factor in multiple sclerosis (MS) in the past few years. It influences employment, activities of daily living, and social and emotional functioning. One brief, reliable and valid tool to assess cognition in MS is the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS), which encompasses the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT II), and the Revised Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT-R).
Objectives: Standardizing raw scores of the BICAMS and obtaining regression formulas in order to adjust for demographics in the Colombian Population. Establish test-retest reliability and criterion related validity for the validation.
Aims: Continuing with the international initiative to validate the BICAMS, our aim was to obtain normative data for the Colombian population.
Method: Fifty MS patients and 100 healthy controls (HC) participated in the study. Instead of the CVLT-II, the Colombian validated form, PAM (Free Encoding Verbal Learning and Memory Test) was used. Test re-test measures were obtained in 6 patients. Normative raw data was obtained from the HC group and converted to uncontrolled scaled scores. Stepwise multiple linear regressions were used to obtain an adjusted Z score.
Results: Evidence of criterion validity was obtained, MS group performing significantly worse than HC group in all three tests (SDMT: p= .001, PAM: p= .03, BVMT-R: p< .00; effect sizes: SDMT= 0.61, PAM= 0.33, BVMT-R= 0.90). Test re-test was obtained, finding significant correlations for the SDMT (r=0.928, p=0.008) and the BVMT-R (r=0.83, p=0.037), but not for the PAM (r=0.6, p=0.2). Standardization was done and these scores were then adjusted for age and years of schooling.
Conclusions: CI was found in 50% of our sample, similar to the percentages reported in other validations and the estimated prevalence for CI in MS. In the Colombian validation, the BICAMS proved to be able to discriminate between patients and controls, especially the BVMT-R. The BICAMS proved to be a valid and sensitive tool to screen for CI in MS patients, but the importance of a more comprehensive assessment is highlighted. This study is the first effort to guarantee the use of a reliable and valid tool in Colombia. As a diverse country, the need of a wider and cross-cultural sample is highlighted for future studies.
Disclosure: The authors reported no potential conflict of interest.
Abstract: EP1551
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Neuropsychology
Introduction: Cognitive impairment (CI) has been recognized as an important factor in multiple sclerosis (MS) in the past few years. It influences employment, activities of daily living, and social and emotional functioning. One brief, reliable and valid tool to assess cognition in MS is the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS), which encompasses the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT II), and the Revised Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT-R).
Objectives: Standardizing raw scores of the BICAMS and obtaining regression formulas in order to adjust for demographics in the Colombian Population. Establish test-retest reliability and criterion related validity for the validation.
Aims: Continuing with the international initiative to validate the BICAMS, our aim was to obtain normative data for the Colombian population.
Method: Fifty MS patients and 100 healthy controls (HC) participated in the study. Instead of the CVLT-II, the Colombian validated form, PAM (Free Encoding Verbal Learning and Memory Test) was used. Test re-test measures were obtained in 6 patients. Normative raw data was obtained from the HC group and converted to uncontrolled scaled scores. Stepwise multiple linear regressions were used to obtain an adjusted Z score.
Results: Evidence of criterion validity was obtained, MS group performing significantly worse than HC group in all three tests (SDMT: p= .001, PAM: p= .03, BVMT-R: p< .00; effect sizes: SDMT= 0.61, PAM= 0.33, BVMT-R= 0.90). Test re-test was obtained, finding significant correlations for the SDMT (r=0.928, p=0.008) and the BVMT-R (r=0.83, p=0.037), but not for the PAM (r=0.6, p=0.2). Standardization was done and these scores were then adjusted for age and years of schooling.
Conclusions: CI was found in 50% of our sample, similar to the percentages reported in other validations and the estimated prevalence for CI in MS. In the Colombian validation, the BICAMS proved to be able to discriminate between patients and controls, especially the BVMT-R. The BICAMS proved to be a valid and sensitive tool to screen for CI in MS patients, but the importance of a more comprehensive assessment is highlighted. This study is the first effort to guarantee the use of a reliable and valid tool in Colombia. As a diverse country, the need of a wider and cross-cultural sample is highlighted for future studies.
Disclosure: The authors reported no potential conflict of interest.