Comparison of the MMSE and RUDAS cognitive screening tools in an elderly inpatient population in everyday clinical use.

We compared test score and performance times of Folstein's Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS). Forty-six patients were recruited. The mean score was 20.6 for the MMSE and 20.5 for the RUDAS. Linear regression analysis revealed an r value of 0.83 (P < 0.05). The mean performance time was 9.4 min for both the MMSE and the RUDAS. Patient satisfaction was similar for both tests. Surveyed clinicians preferred the MMSE because of greater familiarity. We concluded that the RUDAS correlates well with the MMSE and is no more time-consuming to perform. It has good clinical utility as a cognitive screening tool.