Robles Castiñeiras A, Díaz Grávalos GJ, Reinoso Hermida S, López González A, Vázquez Gil C, García Caballero AA. [Prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms and associated factors in institutionalised dementia patients: A multicentre cross-sectional study].
Rev Esp Geriatr Gerontol 2012;
47:96-101. [PMID:
22578384 DOI:
10.1016/j.regg.2012.02.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2011] [Revised: 12/10/2011] [Accepted: 02/21/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to estimate the prevalence and severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia in nursing homes, assessing their association with certain factors that may influence their occurrence.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out, and included all elderly patients diagnosed with degenerative, vascular, or mixed dementia, stage 4 to 7 on the Global Deterioration Scale of Reisberg (GDS), and residents in 6 nursing homes in the province of Ourense (Spain). A sample size of 120 individuals was determined to be necessary. The assessment of symptoms was performed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home test. The influence of the determined factors was investigated using logistic and linear regression analysis, and subsequently corrected for possible confounding factors.
RESULTS
A total of 212 cases were included, with a mean age of 85.7 (SD=6.7) years. The prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms was 84.4%. The most common symptom was apathy, followed by agitation and delirium, and the least frequent were euphoria and hallucinations. The symptom that produced most occupational disruption was agitation. Multivariate analysis showed that a higher score on the NPI-NH was associated with a higher score on the Global Deterioration Scale of Reisberg, the use of neuroleptics, cholinesterase inhibitors, and memantine.
CONCLUSIONS
In nursing home patients, prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms was high, and associated with the severity of dementia (GDS), the use of neuroleptics, cholinesterase inhibitors, and memantine.
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