Hospitalization, depression and dementia in community-dwelling older Americans: findings from the national health and aging trends study

Moderating Role of Neighborhood Environment in the Associations Between Hearing Loss and Cognitive Challenges Among Older Adults: Evidence From US National Study

This study examined the associations between hearing loss and cognitive challenges among community-dwelling older adults and whether neighborhood characteristics (physical disorder and low social cohesion) moderated the associations. Cross-sectional national data from Round 11 of the National Health and Aging Trends Study were adopted (N = 2,515). Multinomial logistic regressions were used to examine associations among variables and interactive analyses were conducted to examine moderating effects. Results indicated significant relationships between the experience of hearing loss and possible dementia and between severe or profound hearing loss and probable dementia. Interactive models suggested that residing in neighborhoods with physical disorder and low social cohesion were negatively associated with possible dementia among older adults with moderate and severe or profound hearing loss, respectively, compared to those without hearing loss. Findings underscore the necessity of environmental and social interventions to enhance cognitive health among older adults with varying degrees of hearing challenges.

Temporal trends and correlates in multiple hospitalizations among older adults: findings from a nationally representative sample in China

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine the trends and correlates in multiple hospitalizations among older adults in China.

METHODS

The data were from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), and generalized ordered logit model (GOLM) was used to identify the correlates of multiple hospitalizations among older adults aged≥60 years old.

RESULTS

Between 2011 and 2018, the proportion of older adults having multiple hospitalizations in the past year showed an increasing trend in the total sample (p value for trend = 0.014). Being older, male, illiterate, living in the middle/western region, having higher annual per capita household expenditure, health insurance, multimorbidity, and being depressed were associated with increased odds of multiple hospitalizations.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated that older adults with multiple hospitalizations may expect an increasing burden on healthcare system. More efforts are needed to improve health insurance and primary healthcare to reduce avoidable hospitalizations.

National Estimates of Short- and Longer-Term Hospital Readmissions After Major Surgery Among Community-Living Older Adults

Importance

Nationally representative estimates of hospital readmissions within 30 and 180 days after major surgery, including both fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, are lacking.

Objectives

To provide population-based estimates of hospital readmission within 30 and 180 days after major surgery in community-living older US residents and examine whether these estimates differ according to key demographic, surgical, and geriatric characteristics.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A prospective longitudinal cohort study of National Health and Aging Trends Study data (calendar years 2011-2018), linked to records from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Data analysis was conducted from April to August 2023. Participants included community-living US residents of the contiguous US aged 65 years or older who had at least 1 major surgery from 2011 to 2018. Data analysis was conducted from April 10 to August 28, 2023.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Major operations and hospital readmissions within 30 and 180 days were identified through data linkages with CMS files that included both fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. Data on frailty and dementia were obtained from the annual National Health and Aging Trends Study assessments.

Results

A total of 1780 major operations (representing 9 556 171 survey-weighted operations nationally) were identified from 1477 community-living participants; mean (SD) age was 79.5 (7.0) years, with 56% being female. The weighted rates of hospital readmission were 11.6% (95% CI, 9.8%-13.6%) for 30 days and 27.6% (95% CI, 24.7%-30.7%) for 180 days. The highest readmission rates within 180 days were observed among participants aged 90 years or older (36.8%; 95% CI, 28.3%-46.3%), those undergoing vascular surgery (45.8%; 95% CI, 37.7%-54.1%), and persons with frailty (36.9%; 95% CI, 30.8%-43.5%) or probable dementia (39.0%; 95% CI, 30.7%-48.1%). In age- and sex-adjusted models with death as a competing risk, the hazard ratios for hospital readmission within 180 days were 2.29 (95% CI, 1.70-3.09) for frailty and 1.58 (95% CI, 1.15-2.18) for probable dementia.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this nationally representative cohort study of community-living older US residents, the likelihood of hospital readmissions within 180 days after major surgery was increased among older persons who were frail or had probable dementia, highlighting the potential value of these geriatric conditions in identifying those at increased risk.

Population-Based Estimates of 1-Year Mortality After Major Surgery Among Community-Living Older US Adults

Importance

Despite their importance to guiding public health decision-making and policies and to establishing programs aimed at improving surgical care, contemporary nationally representative mortality data for geriatric surgery are lacking.

Objective

To calculate population-based estimates of mortality after major surgery in community-living older US adults and to determine how these estimates differ according to key demographic, surgical, and geriatric characteristics.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Prospective longitudinal cohort study with 1 year of follow-up in the continental US from 2011 to 2018. Participants included 5590 community-living fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries, aged 65 years or older, from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). Data analysis was conducted from February 22, 2021, to March 16, 2022.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Major surgeries and mortality over 1 year were identified through linkages with data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Data on frailty and dementia were obtained from the annual NHATS assessments.

Results

From 2011 to 2017, of the 1193 major surgeries (from 992 community-living participants), the mean (SD) age was 79.2 (7.1) years; 665 were women (55.7%), and 30 were Hispanic (2.5%), 198 non-Hispanic Black (16.6%), and 915 non-Hispanic White (76.7%). Over the 1-year follow-up period, there were 206 deaths representing 872 096 survey-weighted deaths and 13.4% (95% CI, 10.9%-15.9%) mortality. Mortality rates were 7.4% (95% CI, 4.9%-9.9%) for elective surgeries and 22.3% (95% CI, 17.4%-27.1%) for nonelective surgeries. For geriatric subgroups, 1-year mortality was 6.0% (95% CI, 2.6%-9.4%) for persons who were nonfrail, 27.8% (95% CI, 21.2%-34.3%) for those who were frail, 11.6% (95% CI, 8.8%-14.4%) for persons without dementia, and 32.7% (95% CI, 24.3%-41.0%) for those with probable dementia. The age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratios for 1-year mortality were 4.41 (95% CI, 2.53-7.69) for frailty with a reduction in restricted mean survival time of 48.8 days and 2.18 (95% CI, 1.40-3.40) for probable dementia with a reduction in restricted mean survival time of 44.9 days.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, the population-based estimate of 1-year mortality after major surgery among community-living older adults in the US was 13.4% but was 3-fold higher for nonelective than elective procedures. Mortality was considerably elevated among older persons who were frail or who had probable dementia, highlighting the potential prognostic value of geriatric conditions after major surgery.

Is hospitalization a risk factor for cognitive decline in older age adults?

OBJECTIVES

Many studies document cognitive decline following specific types of acute illness hospitalizations (AIH) such as surgery, critical care, or those complicated by delirium. However, cognitive decline may be a complication following all types of AIH. This systematic review will summarize longitudinal observational studies documenting cognitive changes following AIH in the majority admitted population and conduct meta-analysis (MA) to assess the quantitative effect of AIH on post-hospitalization cognitive decline (PHCD).

METHODS

We followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Selection criteria were defined to identify studies of older age adults exposed to AIH with cognitive measures. 6566 titles were screened. 46 reports were reviewed qualitatively, of which seven contributed data to the MA. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

The qualitative review suggested increased cognitive decline following AIH, but several reports were particularly vulnerable to bias. Domain-specific outcomes following AIH included declines in memory and processing speed. Increasing age and the severity of illness were the most consistent risk factors for PHCD. PHCD was supported by MA of seven eligible studies with 41,453 participants (Cohen's d = -0.25, 95% CI [-0.02, -0.49] I² 35%).

CONCLUSIONS

There is preliminary evidence that AIH exposure accelerates or triggers cognitive decline in the elderly patient. PHCD reported in specific contexts could be subsets of a larger phenomenon and caused by overlapping mechanisms. Future research must clarify the trajectory, clinical significance, and etiology of PHCD: a priority in the face of an aging population with increasing rates of both cognitive impairment and hospitalization.

Does hospitalisation impact the successful ageing of community-dwelling older adults?: A propensity score matching analysis using the Korean national survey data

OBJECTIVES

For community-dwelling older adults with hospitalisation experience, it is necessary to be strategic when promoting successful ageing. This study aimed to investigate whether components of successful ageing (i.e., diseases and complications, functions and engagement with life) differ according to hospitalisation experience in community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

A secondary data analysis with the Korean national survey was performed. Using propensity score matching, 1812 older adults with hospitalisation experience were matched to 1812 older adults without hospitalisation experience. Sampling weight of the survey was considered for all statistical analyses.

RESULTS

The hospitalisation experienced group had more chronic illnesses, malnourishment, impairment in physical function, and depressive symptoms, and less activity in terms of working and social activities. There were no differences in cognitive function or religious activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults with hospitalisation experience were less likely to experience successful ageing. To facilitate successful ageing of community-dwelling older adults with hospitalisation experience, nursing interventions for effective transitional care to encourage the use of community resources and participation in social activities are needed.

Racial segregation and cognitive function among older adults in the United States: Findings from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study

OBJECTIVES

Residential segregation is one of the fundamental features of health disparities in the United States. Yet little research has examined how living in segregated metropolitan areas is related to cognitive function and cognitive decline with age. We examined the association between segregation at the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) level and trajectories of age-related cognitive function.

METHOD

Using data from Black and White older adults in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study (n=18,913), we employed linear growth curve models to examine how living in racially segregated MSAs at baseline, measured by the degree of Non-Hispanic Black [NHB] isolation and NHB dissimilarity, was associated with trajectories of age-related cognitive function and how the associations varied by race and education.

RESULTS

Living in MSAs with greater levels of isolation was associated with lower cognitive function (b=-0.093, p<0.05) but was not associated with rates of change in cognitive decline with age. No effects of living in isolated MSAs were found for those with at least a high school education, but older adults with less than a high school education had lower cognitive function in MSAs with greater isolation (b=-0.274, p<0.05). The degree of dissimilarity was not associated with cognitive function. The association between segregation and cognitive function did not vary by race.

DISCUSSION

Metropolitan segregation was associated with lower cognitive function among older adults, especially for those with lower education living in racially isolated MSAs. This suggests complex associations between individual socioeconomic status, place, and cognitive health.

Numeracy Skills, Cognitive Reserve, and Psychological Well-Being: What Relationship in Late Adult Lifespan?

BACKGROUND

The capacity of understanding and manipulating numerical stimuli (i.e., numeracy) can impact decision making. This investigation was conducted to examine whether number comprehension and mental calculation predict hedonic (i.e., Scale of Positive and Negative Experience, SPANE) and eudaimonic (i.e., Flourishing Scale) well-being in late adulthood, and whether cognitive reserve (i.e., education, time spent for gardening, and time spent for leisure activities) and non-verbal reasoning predict numeracy skills of old adults. Additionally, the effect of age on numeracy was examined, controlling for the effect of education and cognitive efficiency.

METHODS

One hundred and fifty-eight (i.e., 65-94 years old) community-dwellers completed a battery of tools assessing numeracy, cognitive and metacognitive efficiency, and psychological well-being.

RESULTS

Number comprehension, metacognition, time spent for leisure, and perceived physical health accounted for 23% of the variance in the SPANE condition, whereas metacognition, perceived physical health, time for leisure, and education explained 15% of the variance in the Flourishing condition. Moreover, cognitive reserve assessed in terms of vocabulary and education predicted mental calculation. Finally, aging significantly impacted the mental calculation performance of older participants.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that numeracy skills can selectively impact the mental health and daily life of older adults.

Health Outcomes Associated with Adherence to Antidepressant Use during Acute and Continuation Phases of Depression Treatment among Older Adults with Dementia and Major Depressive Disorder

OBJECTIVES

To examine health outcomes associated with adherence to Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) antidepressant medication management (AMM) during acute and continuation phases of depression treatment among older adults with dementia and major depressive disorder (MDD).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Medicare 5% sample data (2011-2013).

PARTICIPANTS

Older adults (aged 65 years or older) with dementia and MDD.

MEASUREMENTS

The first antidepressant prescription claim from 1 May 2011 through 30 April 2012 was considered the index prescription start date (IPSD). Adherence during acute- and continuation-phase AMM was based on HEDIS guidelines. Study outcomes included all-cause mortality, all-cause hospitalization, and falls/factures (with mortality being the competing event for hospitalization and falls/fractures) during follow-up from end of acute-/continuation-phase AMM adherence. Due to the proportionality assumption violation of Cox models, fully non-parametric approaches (Kaplan-Meier and modified Gray's test) were used for time-to-event analysis adjusting for the inverse probability of treatment weights.

RESULTS

Final study samples consisted of 4330 (adherent (N) = 3114 (71.92%)) and 3941 (adherent (N) = 2407 (61.08%)) older adults with dementia and MDD during acute- and continuation-phase treatments, respectively. No significant difference (p > 0.05) between adherent and non-adherent groups was observed for all-cause mortality and falls/fractures in both the acute and continuation phases. There was a significant difference in time to all-cause hospitalization during acute-phase treatment (p = 0.018), with median times of 530 (95% CI: 499-587) and 425 (95% CI: 364-492) days for adherent and non-adherent groups, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute-phase adherence to HEDIS AMM was associated with reductions in all-cause hospitalization risk among older adults with dementia and MDD.

Self-reported vision and hallucinations in older adults: results from two longitudinal US health surveys

BACKGROUND

Vision loss may be a risk factor for hallucinations, but this has not been studied at the population level.

METHODS

To determine the association between self-reported vision loss and hallucinations in a large community-based sample of older adults, we performed a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of two large, nationally representative US health surveys: the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Visual impairment and hallucinations were self- or proxy-reported. Multivariate single and mixed effects logistic regression models were built to examine whether visual impairment and history of cataract surgery were associated with hallucinations.

RESULTS

In NHATS (n = 1520), hallucinations were more prevalent in those who reported difficulty reading newspaper print (OR 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32-2.39) or recognising someone across the street (OR 2.48, 95% CI: 1.86-3.31) after adjusting for confounders. In HRS (n = 3682), a similar association was observed for overall (OR 1.32, 95% CI: 1.08-1.60), distance (OR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.32-1.96) and near eyesight difficulties (OR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.25-1.85). In neither sample was there a significant association between cataract surgery and hallucinations after adjusting for covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

Visual dysfunction is associated with increased odds of hallucinations in the older US adult population. This suggests that the prevention and treatment of vision loss may potentially reduce the prevalence of hallucinations in older adults.

Anticholinergic burden before and after hospitalization in older adults with dementia: Increase due to antipsychotic medications

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate changes in the use of antipsychotics and medications with anticholinergic activity (MACs) during hospitalization in older adults with dementia and factors associated with antipsychotic prescriptions and increased anticholinergic burden (ACB).

METHODS AND DESIGN

This retrospective cohort study included all patients aged 65 years or older with a discharge diagnosis of dementia hospitalized at the university hospital of Udine, Italy, from 2012 to 2014. Medications dispensed within 3 months before and after hospitalization were identified in community-pharmacy dispensations while those prescribed at discharge were collected from Hospital Electronic Medical Records (EMR). ACB was assessed using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden score.

RESULTS

Among 1908 patients included, at discharge, 37.0% used one or more antipsychotic (9.4% before and 12.6% after hospitalization), 68.6% used one or more MAC (49.1% and 45.7%, respectively), and ACB of 38.4% of patients increased at discharge mainly because of a higher use of antipsychotics with anticholinergic activity (33% at discharge vs 12% before hospitalization). Prescription of antipsychotics at discharge was associated with prior treatment with antipsychotics (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.85; 95%CI, 3.37-6.97), psychiatric conditions, (4.39; 3.47-5.54) and discharge from surgical department (2.17; 1.32-3.55). An increased ACB was associated with psychiatric conditions (1.91; 1.52-2.39), discharge from surgical (1.75; 1.09-2.80) or medical department (1.50; 1.04-2.17), and with cardiac insufficiency (1.41; 1.00-1.99).

CONCLUSIONS

ACB was higher at discharge, and antipsychotics were the main drivers of this increase. Clinicians treating older adults with dementia should be aware of the risks associated with antipsychotics and that some of these medications may increase the risk of anticholinergic effects.

Dementia Prevalence in Older Adults: Variation by Race/Ethnicity and Immigrant Status

OBJECTIVE

To examine differences in prevalence and risk factors of dementia by race/ethnicity and immigrant status using a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study performed in the United States among non-Hispanic white (NHW), non-Hispanic black (NHB), Hispanic, and other Medicare beneficiaries from round 1 of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (N = 7,609). The authors used log-binomial regression analyses to investigate risk factors and interactions between race/ethnicity and immigrant status and dementia. Stratified log-binomial regression analyses by race/ethnicity were used to interpret the results of interaction effects of immigrant status found in these surveys. Analyses were conducted in three forms: probable dementia versus possible and no dementia, probable and possible dementia versus no dementia; and probable dementia versus no dementia.

RESULTS

Consistent with previous studies, U.S.-born NHBs have a higher prevalence of dementia than U.S.-born whites, Hispanics, and others. Immigrant status moderated the relationship between race/ethnicity and dementia. NHWs, Hispanics, and other immigrants had a higher prevalence of dementia compared with their U.S.-born counterparts. However, U.S.-born NHBs had a higher prevalence of dementia compared with NHB immigrants. Results were consistent across the three forms of analysis. Greater age predicted higher dementia across the four racial/ethnic groups.

CONCLUSION

Immigrant status may have complex effects on dementia risk. Selection factors affecting immigration-varied health and educational systems in diverse countries of origin, acculturative stress, and validity of dementia assessment across diverse groups-deserve further attention.

Utility of Geriatric Syndrome Indicators for Predicting Subsequent Health Care Utilization in Older Adults in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

The predictive utility of both individual and combined indicators of geriatric syndromes on subsequent emergency use and hospitalization is not clear.

METHODS

Nationally representative data on adults aged 65+ (N = 2345) (with 1148 male, 1197 female) in Taiwan were analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve examined the diagnostic accuracy of the combined effects of geriatric syndromes on predicting health care utilization in three years. Negative binomial regressions identified the individual effect of each indicator with the control of sociodemographic and baseline health status.

RESULTS

The combined indicators of geriatric syndromes predicted future hospitalization of old-old (75+ yrs) diabetes patients, with area under the curve (AUC) = 0.709, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.635⁻0.782, and young-old patients (65-74 yrs) with mild cognitive impairment (AUC = 0.727, 95% CI = 0.610⁻0.845 for hospitalization and AUC = 0.770, 95% CI = 0.664⁻0.877 for emergency visits). As for individual indicators, while incontinence was the indicator having the most influence on hospitalization (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.21⁻2.72) and emergency visits (IRR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.23⁻2.59) for general older adults (65+), and for old-old emergency visits, especially (IRR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.39⁻3.49), falls was the most prominent indicator of hospitalization for young-old (65-74) adults (IRR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.13⁻2.28). In addition, pain was another significant indicator for predicting future hospitalization of old-old diabetes patients (IRR = 1.61, 95% CI= 1.07⁻2.44).

CONCLUSIONS

Combined indicators of geriatric syndromes effectively predict hospitalization in old-old (75+ yrs) diabetes patients and hospitalization and emergency visits in young-old (65⁻74 yrs) patients with cognitive impairment. Incontinence, falls, and pain were the most predictive independent geriatric assessment indicators.

How complete is the information on preadmission psychotropic medications in inpatients with dementia? A comparison of hospital medical records with dispensing data

OBJECTIVES

Reliable information on preadmission medications is essential for inpatients with dementia, but its quality has hardly been evaluated. We assessed the completeness of information and factors associated with incomplete recording.

METHODS

We compared preadmission medications recorded in hospital electronic medical records (EMRs) with community-pharmacy dispensations in hospitalizations with discharge code for dementia at the University Hospital of Udine, Italy, 2012-2014. We calculated: (a) prevalence of omissions (dispensed medication not recorded in EMRs), additions (medication recorded in EMRs not dispensed), and discrepancies (any omission or addition); (b) multivariable logistic regression odds ratio, with 95% confidence interval (95% CI), of ≥1 omission.

RESULTS

Among 2,777 hospitalizations, 86.1% had ≥1 discrepancy for any medication (Kappa 0.10) and 33.4% for psychotropics. When psychotropics were recorded in EMR, antipsychotics were added in 71.9% (antidepressants: 29.2%, antidementia agents: 48.2%); when dispensed, antipsychotics were omitted in 54.4% (antidepressants: 52.7%, antidementia agents: 41.5%). Omissions were 92% and twice more likely in patients taking 5 to 9 and ≥10 medications (vs. 0 to 4), 17% in patients with psychiatric disturbances (vs. none), and 41% with emergency admission (vs. planned).

CONCLUSION

Psychotropics, commonly used in dementia, were often incompletely recorded. To enhance information completeness, both EMRs and dispensations should be used.

Hospitalisation and surgery: Is exposure associated with increased subsequent depressive symptoms? Evidence from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

BACKGROUND

The dramatic shift in the global population demographic has led to increasing numbers of older people undergoing hospitalisation and surgical procedures. While necessary, these exposures may lead to an increase in depressive symptoms.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether hospitalisation or hospitalisation with surgery under general anaesthesia is associated with an increase in depressive symptoms in adults over the age of 50.

METHODS

Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in 8036 individuals at waves 1 and 2 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), 2 years apart. Mixed-effects models were used to investigate the hypothesis after adjustment for risk factors for depression and potential confounders.

RESULTS

During the 12 months preceding wave 1, a total of 459 participants were hospitalised (mean age, 67.0; 55.3% female), and a further 548 participants (mean age, 64.6; 51.8% female) were hospitalised and underwent surgery with general anaesthesia; 6891 (mean age, 63.5; 54.3% female) were not hospitalised. Analysis of waves 1 and 2 data using mixed-effects models demonstrated that there was a 7% increased adjusted incidence rate of depressive symptoms (IRR [95% CI] = 1.07 [1.02-1.11]) in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in the hospitalisation group and a 4% increased adjusted incidence rate of depressive symptoms (IRR [95% CI] = 1.04 [1.00-1.08]) in the surgery group compared with those with no hospitalisation.

CONCLUSION

Hospitalisation and hospitalisation with surgery and general anaesthesia are associated with increased depressive symptoms. This is the first time a longitudinal population-representative study has demonstrated this relationship for both exposures simultaneously.

Subjective age and risk of incident dementia: Evidence from the National Health and Aging Trends survey

The present study examines the association between subjective age and risk of incident dementia in a large longitudinal sample of older adults. Participants were adults aged 65 years and older from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). Subjective age, covariates, and cognitive status were assessed in 2011 and cognitive status was again assessed in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Incident dementia was determined based on answers from self and proxy respondents. The analyses included 4262 participants without dementia at baseline. Adjusting for demographic factors and baseline cognition, an older subjective age was related to higher likelihood of incident dementia. This association was partly accounted by depressive symptoms. Beyond the effect of chronological age, feeling older is associated with the risk of incident dementia.

Dementia and Hospital Readmission Rates: A Systematic Review

Background

Although community-dwelling persons with dementia have an increased risk of hospital readmission, no systematic review has examined the contribution of dementia to readmissions.

Summary

We examined articles in English, with no restrictions on publication dates, from Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and EMBASE. Keywords used were dementia, Alzheimer disease, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, elderly, frontotemporal dementia, executive function, brain atrophy, frontal lobe atrophy, cognitive impairment, readmission, readmit, rehospitalization, patient discharge, and return visit. Of 404 abstracts identified, 77 articles were retrieved; 12 were included. Four of 5 cohort studies showed significantly increased readmission rates in patients with dementia. On average the absolute increase above the comparison groups was from 3 to 13%. Dementia was not associated with readmission in 7 included case-control studies.

Key Message

Findings suggest a small increased risk of hospital readmission in individuals with dementia. More study is needed.

Prevalence of Dementia, Depression, and Mild Cognitive Impairment in a Rural Area of the Island of Crete, Greece

The studies on the prevalence of dementia, depression, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Greece are sparse and show major variations of prevalence depending on geographical areas, nutritional habits, and the way of living. The aim of this door-to-door study was to find the prevalence of dementia, depression, and MCI in a rural Greek population. Four hundred and forty-three individuals older than 61years following the application of specific criteria were diagnosed with: normal cognition, depression, MCI with and without depression, and dementia with and without depression. Four diagnostic methods were used, 2 of which included Mungas correction for age and education. After Mungas adjustment, the results were as follows-depression: 33.9%; MCI: 15.3%; MCI with depression: 8.6%; dementia: 2.0%; and dementia with depression: 7.2%. Dementia is less prevalent compared to global data and other Greek areas. Mild cognitive impairment is more prevalent than dementia. High percentages of depression may be related to low education.

Prevalence, Patterns, and Predictors of Depression Treatment among Community-Dwelling Elderly Individuals with Dementia in the United States

OBJECTIVES

Co-occurring dementia and depression exerts a substantial burden on the elderly. This study utilizes data from a nationally representative cohort of community-dwelling individuals 65 years and older to examine the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of depression treatment among elderly individuals with co-occurring dementia and depression.

DESIGN

Retrospective, cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Multiple years of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012) data.

PARTICIPANTS

The study sample consisted of elderly (age ≥65 years) individuals who 1) had dementia, 2) were alive during the calendar year, and 3) had co-occurring depression.

MEASUREMENTS

The dependent variable of this study was depression treatment, identified by antidepressant medication with or without psychotherapy use. Individual level factors associated with depression treatment among elderly individuals with dementia and co-occurring depression were evaluated by conducting multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS

Co-occurring depression prevalence among community-dwelling elderly individuals with dementia was approximately 22%. An overwhelming majority (nearly 88%) of the study sample reported receipt of depression treatment. Antidepressants only and combination therapy (antidepressant with psychotherapy) was reported by 75% and 13%, respectively, of the study sample. Age, race/ethnicity, marital status, limitations of instrumental activities of daily living, perceived mental health status, and pain were significantly associated with the reporting of receipt of depression treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

An overwhelming majority of the study sample received depression treatment and several subgroup differences (such as in terms of age) existed in terms of reporting the use of depression treatment was observed.

Long-term use of antipsychotics in community-dwelling dementia patients: prevalence and profile accounting for unobservable time bias because of hospitalization

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of long-term antipsychotic (AP) use in community-dwelling patients with dementia considering hospitalization periods as AP exposure or not. A retrospective study was carried out from 2009 to 2012 on a PACA-Alzheimer cohort (which included 31 963 patients in 2009 and 36 442 in 2012 from 5 million inhabitants). Three groups of patients were identified according to the longest exposure to APs without interruption: nonusers, short-term users (≤3 successive months without discontinuation), and long-term users. Sensitivity analyses on hospitalization periods were carried out. The percentage of patients with at least one AP dispensing was stable over the study period (25.6% in 2009 vs. 26.5% in 2012). In 2012, 27.6% were AP long-term users. This increased to 46.7% when hospitalization periods were counted as AP exposure. In comparison with nonusers, AP users took more benzodiazepines and antidepressants. Short-term users were men [odds ratio (OR)=1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.1-1.3)] older than 85 years old [OR=1.2, 95% CI (1.1-1.2)]. Long-term users were more exposed to benzodiazepines [OR=1.2, 95% CI (1.1-1.4)]. This study showed that long-term use of AP remained frequent in community-dwelling patients with dementia. It also showed that the prevalence of long-term users almost doubled when hospitalization periods were counted as AP exposure. This underlines the need to consider hospitalization periods when assessing medication exposure in populations with frequent periods of hospitalization.

Quality of Life, Family Support, and Comorbidities in Institutionalized Elders With and Without Symptoms of Depression

The institutionalization of elders can decrease the health status and quality of life in this population. The aim of this study was to analyze the socio-demographic, quality of life, family support, and comorbidities variables in institutionalized elders with and without symptoms of depression. This was a cross-sectional study in institutions for long permanence for the elderly in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Two institutionalized elderly groups were compared (138 elders: 69 with and 69 without depressive symptoms). The instruments used were: mini-mental state examination, geriatric depression scale in the reduced version, socio-demographic questionnaire, quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life abbreviated-WHOQOL-bref), and inventory of perception of family support. Elders with depressive symptoms had inferior quality of life than those without depressive symptoms. Other factors that negatively influenced the quality of life in this population include: low economic conditions, occurrence of comorbidities, and deficient family assistance. These results have important implications in the decision making process with regard to strategies for improving the health status of institutionalized elders.

Depressive symptomatology in severe dementia in a European sample: prevalence, associated factors and prescription rate of antidepressants

BACKGROUND

Depression is a common comorbid disorder of dementia. This study explores the prevalence of and factors associated with depressive symptomatology, and antidepressant prescription rates in severe dementia across eight European countries.

METHODS

In total, 414 people with severe dementia completed measures of cognition and quality of life (QoL), whilst carers completed proxy measures of activities of daily living (ADLs), depression, neuropsychiatric symptoms, QoL and comorbidity.

RESULTS

Findings indicated that 30% of the sample had depression, whilst the highest and lowest prevalence of depression was reported in Germany and Finland, respectively. Lower QoL, the presence of pain and more frequent neuropsychiatric symptoms were associated with depressive symptomatology, whilst no significant relationship between impairment of ADLs, comorbidity, and depression emerged. Spain and Estonia had the highest and lowest rates of antidepressant prescribing, respectively, whilst Germany had the highest discrepancy between depressive symptomatology and prescription.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights variations across countries in the prevalence of depressive symptomatology in severe dementia and prescription of antidepressants. Information about factors associated with depressive symptomatology may help to better identify and manage depression.

A walk-in screening of dementia in the general population in Taiwan

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has increased in its prevalence due to the increasing aged population. Currently there is no updated data on the prevalence of dementia including its very mild stage in Taiwan. Under the extensive coverage of Mentality Protection Center (MPC), Fo Guang Shan, Taiwan, the volunteers of MPC have conducted the medicine-related services and the screening of dementia by AD8 (ascertainment of dementia 8) that can screen the dementia even at its very mild stage in general population in all Taiwan. From 2011 to 2013, in total, 2,171 participants, 368 in the northern, 549 in the central, 877 in the southern, and 377 in the eastern part, were recruited with the mean age being 66.9 ± 10.2 years old. The ratio of suspected dementia patients, AD8 score greater than or equal to 2, was 13.6% of all recruited participants with their mean AD8 score being 2.9 ± 1.3, mean age being 69.4 ± 10.8 years old, and female predominance being 73.0%. Although this is a screening study, it has extensive coverage of all Taiwan and the use of AD8 is capable of screening very mild dementia. A further study with a randomized sampling to examine the prevalence and incidence of dementia including its very mild stage is encouraged.