Trends in treatment of pneumonia among Dutch nursing home patients with dementia.
OBJECTIVE
To test if care to relief suffering in patients with dementia who become ill with pneumonia is improving, we compared treatments in cohorts of patients with dementia and pneumonia a decade apart.


METHODS
We studied 61 nursing homes in The Netherlands between 1996-1998 and 54 nursing homes between 2006-2007, 53 of which had been in the earlier cohort. In 1996-1998, 706 patients with pneumonia and dementia were prospectively enrolled by 201 physicians and in 2006-2007, 72 patients by 69 physicians. Data collected included treatment, physician and patient characteristics, outcome, and additionally, in the 2006-2007 cohort only, physicians' perception of changes in treatment they generally provide.


RESULTS
The frequency of providing antibiotics was similar: 79% in the recent cohort versus 77% ten years earlier (p = 0.63) as was oral antibiotic treatment (91% of those receiving antibiotics versus 88%; p = 0.44). Treatment to relieve symptoms was provided more frequently in the more recent cohort. For example, antipyretics (54% versus 34%; p = 0.001), oxygen (29% versus 13%; p < 0.001), and opiates (22% versus 10%; p = 0.003). Differences were not explained by different case mix. Half of physicians (49%) stated they generally treat to relieve symptoms more frequently than before.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptom relief to Dutch patients with dementia and pneumonia is provided more frequently than a decade ago while the rate of treatment with antibiotics is unchanged. Further studies in The Netherlands and elsewhere are needed to detect if this is a general trend.
van der Steen
Jenny T
JT
EMGO Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.vandersteen@vumc.nl
Meuleman-Peperkamp
Inga
I
Ribbe
Miel W
MW
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D010166:Palliative Care; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011594:Psychometrics
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents