In:
Geriatrics & Gerontology International, Wiley, Vol. 17, No. S1 ( 2017-04), p. 50-56
Abstract:
It has been reported that many people with dementia require hospitalizations. The objective of the present study was to determine predictive factors for hospitalizations in people with dementia. Methods A total of 70 individuals with dementia living in a veterans’ home in southern Taiwan were consecutively enrolled. During prospective follow up, all hospitalization events were recorded. Results The mean age of residents with dementia was 86.1 ± 4.0 years, and the mean follow‐up time for this population was 2.2 ± 1.1 years. Among individuals, 62.9% suffered from malnutrition or were at risk of malnutrition (minimal nutritional assessment‐short form score ≤11), and 8.6% of individuals had a body mass index of 〈 18.5 Kg/m 2 . There were 52 (74.3%) individuals who had previously fallen. Overall, 51 of 70 residents were hospitalized during the follow‐up period. In those individuals with previous falls, there was a significantly increased risk of hospitalization (odds ratio 5.61, 95% CI 1.18–26.7). Furthermore, three factors were significantly associated with the risk of fall, including handgrip strength, malnutrition and Mini‐Mental State Examination score. Conclusions The results of the present study showed that hospitalization was a frequent event in residents with dementia living in a long‐term care facility. The major predictor for hospital admission was history of a previous fall. Screening those with dementia for history of injurious falls and associated risk factors for falling could help identify those at risk of hospitalization, thus necessitating a comprehensive intervention to reduce hospitalization. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17 (Suppl. 1): 50–56.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1444-1586
,
1447-0594
DOI:
10.1111/ggi.2017.17.issue-S1
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2017
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2078308-5
