Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical validity of the Chinese version of John Hopkins Adapted Cognitive Exam (ACE) for inpatients in neurological intensive care unit (NICU). Methods From May, 2014 to June, 2015, 94 inpatients in NICU and 52 healthy persons were assessed with the Chinese version of ACE and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results The total score of ACE correlated with the total score of MMSE (r=0.805, P<0.001). There was a significant difference in the total score and the scores of the subtests of both the ACE and MMSE between the patients and the controls (t>2.458, P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating curve was not different between ACE and MMSE (Z=0.707, P=0.480). Conclusion The Chinese version of ACE can be the tool for assessment of cognition for patients in NICU.

Key words: brain injury, neurological intensive care unit, cognitive impairment, John Hopkins Adapted Cognitive Exam, Mini-Mental State Examination, validity