Dementia in the acute hospital: prospective cohort study of prevalence and mortality.
Br J Psychiatry
; 195(1): 61-6, 2009 Jul.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19567898
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Increasing numbers of people will die with dementia, many in the acute hospital. It is often not perceived to be a life-limiting illness.AIMS:
To investigate the prevalence of dementia in older people undergoing emergency medical admission and its effect on outcomes.METHOD:
Longitudinal cohort study of 617 people (aged over 70). The main outcome was mortality risk during admission.RESULTS:
Of the cohort, 42.4% had dementia (only half diagnosed prior to admission). In men aged 70-79, dementia prevalence was 16.4%, rising to 48.8% of those over 90. In women, 29.6% aged 70-79 had dementia, rising to 75.0% aged over 90. Urinary tract infection or pneumonia was the principal cause of admission in 41.3% of the people with dementia. These individuals had markedly higher mortality; 24.0% of those with severe cognitive impairment died during admission (adjusted mortality risk 4.02, 95% CI 2.24-7.36).CONCLUSIONS:
The rising prevalence of dementia will have an impact on acute hospitals. Extra resources will be required for intermediate and palliative care and mental health liaison services.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Mortalidade Hospitalar
/
Demência
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Br J Psychiatry
Ano de publicação:
2009
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Reino Unido