Correlates of cognitive functioning in independent elderly patients discharged home from the emergency department after a minor injury.
The objective of this study was to explore correlates of cognitive functioning of older adults visiting the emergency department (ED) after a minor injury.



These results are derived from a large prospective study in three Canadian EDs. Participants were aged ≥ 65 years and independent in basic activities of daily living, visiting the ED for minor injuries and discharged home within 48 hours (those with known dementia, confusion, and delirium were excluded). They completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Potential correlates included sociodemographic and injury variables, and measures of psychological and physical health, social support, mobility, falls, and functional status.



Multivariate analyses revealed that male sex, age ≥ 85 years, higher depression scores, slower walking speed, and self-reported memory problems were significantly associated with lower baseline MoCA scores.



These characteristics could help ED professionals identify patients who might need additional cognitive evaluations or follow-ups after their passage through the ED. Obtaining information on these characteristics is potentially feasible in the ED context and could help professionals alter favorably elderly's trajectory of care. Since a significant proportion of elderly patients consulting at an ED have cognitive impairment, the ED is an opportunity to prevent functional and cognitive decline.
Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec,Québec,QC,Canada.
Marie-Christine
MC
Ouellet
Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec,Québec,QC,Canada.
Marie-Josée
MJ
Sirois
Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale,Québec,QC,Canada.
Simon
0000-0002-9544-5023
S
Beaulieu-Bonneau
Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale,Québec,QC,Canada.
Marie-Ève
MÈ
Gagné
Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec,Québec,QC,Canada.
Jacques
J
Morin
The Ottawa Hospital,Ottawa,ON,Canada.
Jeffrey
J
Perry
Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal,Montréal,QC,Canada.
Raoul
R
Daoust
The Ottawa Hospital,Ottawa,ON,Canada.
Laura
L
Wilding
Département de réadaptation,Université Laval,Québec,QC,Canada.
Véronique
V
Provencher
Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec,Québec,QC,Canada.
Stéphanie
S
Camden
Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec,Québec,QC,Canada.
Nadine
N
Allain-Boulé
Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec,Québec,QC,Canada.
Marcel
M
Émond
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003693:Delirium / Q000150:complications; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
Montreal Cognitive Assessment; cognitive status; emergency medicine; geriatrics; minor injury