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Comorbidity patterns in institutionalized older adults affected by dementia
Maria Beatrice Zazzara1, Davide Liborio Vetrano2,3, Angelo Carfì1
1Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS Rome Italy.
Alzheimer'S & Dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|June 23, 2022
Summary
Nursing home residents with dementia exhibit distinct comorbidity patterns, including heart disease, cardiovascular/respiratory issues, and psychiatric conditions. Recognizing these patterns can improve care and outcomes for individuals with dementia.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Dementia is highly prevalent among nursing home residents, necessitating a deeper understanding of co-occurring conditions.
- Identifying distinct comorbidity patterns is crucial for stratifying patients with dementia based on health trajectories and resource utilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify comorbidity patterns in institutionalized older adults with dementia.
- To associate these patterns with clinical, behavioral, and functional phenotypes.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study analyzing data from 2563 Italian nursing home residents with dementia (2014-2018).
- Utilized the interRAI Long-Term Care Facility (LTCF) instrument for multidimensional assessment.
- Employed principal component analysis to identify comorbidity patterns and linear regression to analyze correlates.
Main Results:
- Three primary comorbidity patterns were identified: heart diseases; cardiovascular and respiratory diseases with sensory impairments; and psychiatric diseases.
- Older age correlated with heart disease and cardiovascular/respiratory patterns, while younger age was linked to psychiatric disease patterns.
- Recent hospital admissions were associated with the heart disease pattern; depressive symptoms and delirium episodes were linked to the psychiatric disease pattern.
Conclusions:
- Distinct comorbidity patterns exist among nursing home residents with dementia, each associated with unique clinical and functional profiles.
- Tailoring care plans based on identified comorbidity patterns can potentially enhance long-term prognosis and quality of life for these individuals.
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