title: Thiamine deficiency in patients admitted to a palliative care unit.
abstract: This study looks at the clinical and thiamine status of 50 terminally ill patients who were admitted to a palliative care unit. Thiamine levels were found to be abnormally low in 28% of the patients and borderline in a further 36%. Cognitive impairment, as measured by the mini-metal state examination (MMSE) of Folstein, Folstein and McHugh, was present in 68% of those tested and a significant correlation was found between the MMSE status and thiamine levels.
authors.affiliation: Palliative Care Unit, St Joseph's Hospital, Auburn, NSW.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbato
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*