title: Clinical phenomenology and mortality in Charles Bonnet syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite existing diagnostic criteria for Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS), clinical manifestations vary greatly. We examined the clinical course and mortality of patients diagnosed with CBS.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with CBS. We collected demographic and clinical information and medical burden scores. Kaplan-Meier mortality curves were compared using log-rank test. Cox proportional hazard model was used for multivariate analysis and hazard ratio (HR). Mortality was compared to expected mortality from Minnesota population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-seven patients with CBS had a mean age of 79.5 (standard deviation ± 13.0) and were predominantly Caucasian (97%) and female (73%). In all, 20 (26%) subsequently developed a dementia syndrome, most often Lewy body. A total of 46 (60%) deaths occurred with an average follow-up time of 33.0 months. Characteristics associated with mortality included older age (75-84 [HR 3.34, P = .029], >85 [HR 4.58, P = .007]) and renal disease (HR 3.39 with 95% confidence interval 1.31-8.80, P = .012). Medical burden scores were not associated with overall mortality. Mortality was high compared to Minnesota population (P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large proportion of patients with CBS developed dementia, and there was a high mortality rate associated with older age and renal disease. Medical burden was not associated with mortality.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. lapid.maria@mayo.edu
authors: Maria I
authors: MI
authors: Lapid
authors: M Caroline
authors: MC
authors: Burton
authors: Megan T
authors: MT
authors: Chang
authors: Teresa A
authors: TA
authors: Rummans
authors: Stephen S
authors: SS
authors: Cha
authors: Jacqueline A
authors: JA
authors: Leavitt
authors: Bradley F
authors: BF
authors: Boeve
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003704:Dementia / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013577:Syndrome