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Comorbidity and clinical features in elderly patients with dementia: Differences according to dementia severity

  • JNHA: Clinical Neurosciences
  • Published:
JNHA - The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging

Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate comorbidity and clinical features in elderly patients with dementia to determine differences according to dementia severity.

Design

Observational study with medical record review.

Setting

Eight hospitals in the Barcelona area.

Participants

515 consecutive admissions aged > 64 years with dementia, 89.1% of whom lived in the community.

Measurements

We collected data on sociodemographic variables, type of dementia, Barthel Index (BI), Lawton and Brody Index (LI), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Charlson Index and the total number of drugs chronically prescribed. We stratified the population into two groups according to disease severity with the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS): mild-moderate (GDS 3–5) and severe (GDS 6–7).

Results

There were a total of 515 participants of which 364 females (70%) and 151 males with a mean age of 81 ± 6 years old. The total number of chronic prescription drugs was 5.6 ± 2.4. The mean Charlson Index score was 2 ± 1.2. The 270 (52.5%) patients with a GDS score of 3–5 were compared with the 245 patients with a GDS score of 6–7. In the multivariate analysis, a GDS score of 6–7 was associated with poorer LI, BI, and MMSE scores and greater neuroleptic therapy.

Conclusions

Important comorbidity conditions are common in elderly individuals with dementia. The patients with more severe dementia had poor functional status and higher frequency of neuroleptic use. Medical comorbidities should be taken into account in the management of patients with dementia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geriatric Unit, Internal Medicine Service. Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain

    F. Formiga

  2. Comprehensive care unit for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Centre Sociosanitari El Carme, Badalona Serveis Assistencials Badalona, Barcelona, Spain

    I. Fort

  3. Servicio de Geriatría del IMAS, Unidad de Convalecencia, Hospital de la Esperanza, Centro Forum, Hospital del Mar, Instituto de Atención Geriátrica y Sociosanitaria (IAGS), Barcelona, Spain

    M. J. Robles

  4. Unitat d’Estada Temporal i Respire, Centre geriàtric Llars Mundet, Diputació de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    S. Riu

  5. Servicio de Geriatría, Fundación Hospital Asil de Granollers, Barcelona, Spain

    O. Sabartes

  6. Servicio de Geriatría. Hospital del Mar y Centre Forum. Servicio de Geriatría, Instituto de Atención Geriátrica y Sociosanitaria, IMAS, Barcelona, Spain

    E. Barranco

  7. Unidad de Psicogeriatria Hospital Sant Andreu, Fundació sociosanitaria, Manresa Barcelona, Spain

    J. Catena

Authors
  1. F. Formiga
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  2. I. Fort
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  4. S. Riu
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  6. E. Barranco
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  7. J. Catena
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Formiga.

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Formiga, F., Fort, I., Robles, M.J. et al. Comorbidity and clinical features in elderly patients with dementia: Differences according to dementia severity. J Nutr Health Aging 13, 423–427 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-009-0078-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-009-0078-x

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