title: Predictive factors of acute hospitalization in 134 patients with Alzheimer's disease: a one year prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the frequency of and determine predictive factors for acute hospitalization in a prospective study of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A one year prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  134 patients recruited from the memory clinic in Toulouse University Hospital, with AD diagnosed using the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive geriatric and neuropsychological assessment was conducted 6 monthly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 134 patients included in this study, at one year follow up, 32 patients had at least one acute hospitalization. Patient-related variables predictive of acute hospitalization in the univariate analysis were: level of education, ADL-bathing, ADL-toileting, ADL-feeding, total ADL score, IADL A scale (daily upkeep), history of falls, and level of behavioural disorder as measured by the Cohen scale. In the multivariate regression model, two variables were associated with acute hospitalization: dependency for ADL-bathing [Odds Ratio (OR) = 5.65, 95% Confidence Intervals (CI): 2.3-14.4] and low level of education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study demonstrate that acute hospitalization is frequent in AD patients resulting in considerable cost implications. Interventions that support patients and their cares to manage their loss of ADL may be a practical approach to reducing the need for acute hospital admissions.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Gerontology, Acute Unit for Alzheimer's Patients, Toulouse, France. sandrieu@cict.fr
authors: Sandrine
authors: S
authors: Andrieu
authors: Emma
authors: E
authors: Reynish
authors: Fati
authors: F
authors: Nourhashemi
authors: Annabelle
authors: A
authors: Shakespeare
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Moulias
authors: Pierre Jean
authors: PJ
authors: Ousset
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Sagnier
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Richard
authors: Jean-Louis
authors: JL
authors: Albarede
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Vellas
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors