title: The prevalence of patients in a vegetative state and minimally conscious state in nursing homes in Austria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the epidemiology of patients in a Vegetative State (VS) and Minimally Conscious State (MCS) that are cared for in long-term care facilities in Austria. The study was inspired by increasing evidence that the cognitive abilities of minimal behavioural patients with disorders of consciousness may be under-rated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since an unequivocal diagnostic code with which to follow-up these long-term patients after the acute event does not exist, a telephone survey was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  A three-step telephone- and questionnaire-based inquiry was conducted between 2007 and 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and fourteen out of 889 long-term care facilities and nursing homes cared for 269 patients in a VS and 120 patients in a MCS, indicating a prevalence of 3.36 patients per 100 000 for VS and 1.5 per 100 000 for MCS in long-term care facilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results are discussed in the light of differences in prevalence in other Western countries. Future studies should concentrate on these long-term patients since the results have implications regarding how to organize appropriate neurorehabilitative care that meets the needs of such patients.
authors: Neurological Department 'Centre for Geriatrics am Wienerwald', Vienna, Austria. donis@aon.at
authors: Johann
authors: J
authors: Donis
authors: Bernd
authors: B
authors: Kräftner
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D003071:Cognition; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires