In this cohort study, a total of 230 patients were evaluated, including TBI group (n = 103) and stroke group (n = 127). The cognitive functions of two groups were evaluated by designated specialists using MoCA (Beijing version) and MMSE (Chinese version).
Compared with the patients with stroke, the patients with TBI received significantly lower score in orientation subtest and recall subtest in both tests. MoCA abnormal rates in the TBI group and stroke group were 94.17% and 86.61% respectively, while MMSE abnormal rates were 69.90% and 57.48%, respectively. In the TBI group, 87.10% patients with normal MMSE score had abnormal MoCA score and in the stroke group, about 70.37% patients with normal MMSE score had abnormal MoCA score. The diagnostic consistency of two scales in the TBI group and the stroke group were 72% and 69%, respectively.
In our rehabilitation center, patients with TBI may have more extensive and severe cognitive impairments than patients with stroke, prominently in orientation and recall domain. In screening post-TBI cognitive impairment, MoCA tends to be more sensitive than MMSE.