Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Schizophrenia: Prevalence and Clinical Correlates at the Maracaibo Psychiatric Hospital, Venezuela

Deterioro cognitivo en pacientes con esquizofrenia: prevalencia y correlatos clínicos en el Hospital Psiquiátrico de Maracaibo, Venezuela

Resumen

Background: Cognitive impairment is a core feature of schizophrenia and a key determinant of functional outcome, yet local evidence from Latin America remains limited. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of MoCA-defined cognitive impairment and describe clinical correlates in patients with schizophrenia treated at a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Material and methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study of 100 consecutive DSM-5-TR schizophrenia patients assessed between November 2023 and October 2024. Cognitive screening used the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) with the standard education adjustment. Results: The mean age was 37.9 ± 9.2 years, and 80 % were male. Cognitive impairment was present in 89 % of participants (89/100; 95 % CI, 81.4–93.7), predominantly mild. Mean total MoCA scores were 20.63 ± 4.10 (95 % CI, 19.10–22.16) in patients <35 years and 21.17 ± 5.80 (95 % CI, 19.79-22.55) in those ≥35 years.