TY - JOUR
T1 - Pneumonia, Intake Problems, and Survival Among Nursing Home Residents With Variable Stages of Dementia in the Netherlands
T2 - Results From a Prospective Observational Study
AU - Hendriks, Simone A.
AU - Smalbrugge, Martin
AU - Van Gageldonk-Lafeber, Arianne B.
AU - Galindo-Garre, Francisca
AU - Schipper, Maarten
AU - Hertogh, Cees M.P.M.
AU - Van Der Steen, Jenny T.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Objectives: We explored how pneumonia and intake problems affect survival in nursing home residents in variable stages of dementia. Methods: In a longitudinal observational study (372 residents) with up to 3.5 years of follow-up, we examined relationships between dementia severity, the development of pneumonia, intake problems, and mortality using joint modeling, Cox models, and mediation analyses. Dementia severity was measured semiannually with the Bedford Alzheimer Nursing Severity-Scale (BANS-S). Results: The median BANS-S score at baseline was 13 (range, 7 to 28). Pneumonia occurred in 103 (28%) and intake problems in 126 (34%) of 367 residents with complete registration of pneumonia and intake problems. Compared with dementia severity, incident pneumonia and, even more so, incident intake problems were more strongly associated with mortality risk. Pneumonia and intake problems both mediated the relationship between more severe dementia and mortality. Discussion: Developing pneumonia and intake problems affects survival, and this is not limited to advanced dementia. The occurrence of pneumonia and intake problems are important signals to consider a palliative care approach in nursing home residents with dementia, and an active focus on advance care planning is needed. Future studies should investigate whether this is also relevant for patients in primary care.
AB - Objectives: We explored how pneumonia and intake problems affect survival in nursing home residents in variable stages of dementia. Methods: In a longitudinal observational study (372 residents) with up to 3.5 years of follow-up, we examined relationships between dementia severity, the development of pneumonia, intake problems, and mortality using joint modeling, Cox models, and mediation analyses. Dementia severity was measured semiannually with the Bedford Alzheimer Nursing Severity-Scale (BANS-S). Results: The median BANS-S score at baseline was 13 (range, 7 to 28). Pneumonia occurred in 103 (28%) and intake problems in 126 (34%) of 367 residents with complete registration of pneumonia and intake problems. Compared with dementia severity, incident pneumonia and, even more so, incident intake problems were more strongly associated with mortality risk. Pneumonia and intake problems both mediated the relationship between more severe dementia and mortality. Discussion: Developing pneumonia and intake problems affects survival, and this is not limited to advanced dementia. The occurrence of pneumonia and intake problems are important signals to consider a palliative care approach in nursing home residents with dementia, and an active focus on advance care planning is needed. Future studies should investigate whether this is also relevant for patients in primary care.
KW - dementia
KW - intake problem
KW - long-term care
KW - palliative care
KW - pneumonia
KW - survival
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84995486171&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1097/WAD.0000000000000171
DO - https://doi.org/10.1097/WAD.0000000000000171
M3 - Article
C2 - 27849637
SN - 0893-0341
VL - 31
SP - 200
EP - 208
JO - Alzheimer disease and associated disorders
JF - Alzheimer disease and associated disorders
IS - 3
ER -