[Indicators for progression of dementia in nursing home patients].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship of progression of dementia with patients' characteristics, comorbidity and psychotropic drug use in nursing home patients.


METHODS
Psychogeriatric nursing home 'Joachim en Anna', Nijmegen, the Netherlands.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of medical charts.


METHODS
In 645 patients, admitted between 1980 and 1989, progression of dementia was expressed by means of a functional status questionnaire developed in the nursing home. Severity of dementia at entry was expressed by a rating scale for elderly patients. Comorbid conditions were classified according to the ICHPPC-2-defined. Psychotropic drug use was expressed as the ratio between days of usage and days of the observation period. Statistical analysis was done by analysis of (co)variance and regression analysis.


RESULTS
In univariate as well as in multivariate analysis progression of dementia was related to time spent in the nursing home, severity of dementia at entry and comorbidity and to a lesser degree psychotropic drug use. Patients who stayed for a short time and had a high frequency of concomitant diseases and psychotropic drug use had a faster progression of dementia. Gender, age at entry and type of dementia were of no significance. The factors mentioned, however, accounted for only 20% of the variance.


CONCLUSIONS
Progression of dementia is a complex process which can only partly be explained by the factors mentioned. Nursing home physicians nevertheless should consider these factors when predicting progression.
Koopmans
R T
RT
Verpleeghuis Joachim en Anna, Nijmegen.
Ekkerink
J L
JL
van den Hoogen
H J
HJ
Froeling
P G
PG
van Weel
C
C
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
Indicatoren voor progressie van de dementering bij verpleeghuispatiënten.