title: Dementia among older in-hospital patients with obstructive airway disease: frequency and consequences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dementia may influence as a co-morbid condition the management of chronic obstructive airway disease. However, the frequency and the consequences of dementia in older people with chronic obstructive airway disease are largely unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  The frequency and the severity of dementia in geriatric in-hospital patients and its impact on feasibility of lung function testing and drug treatment provided were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of a total of 1,424 patients with obstructive airway disease, 433 (30%) suffered from mild and 307 (22%) suffered from moderate to severe dementia. The frequency of any treatment for obstructive airway disease on admission decreased from 58% in subjects without dementia to 51% of those with mild and to 36% of those with moderate to severe dementia (p<0.01). The feasibility of performing lung function testing also decreased with increasing prevalence of dementia from 86% to 66% and 43%, respectively (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dementia is a frequent finding in older in-hospital patients with obstructive airway disease. The majority of subjects with dementia were not able to perform lung function testing. Furthermore, the risk of undertreatment for chronic obstructive airway disease increased. Future guidelines for management of obstructive airway disease must also take into account the special needs and skills of older subjects with dementia.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Altersmedizin, Kliniken Essen Mitte, Am Deimelsberg 34a, 45276, Essen, Deutschland. h.frohnhofen@kliniken-essen-mitte.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frohnhofen
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Heuer
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Willschrei
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Falkenhahn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests