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Survival in a population‐based cohort of dementia patients: predictors and causes of mortality
Author(s) -
Boersma Froukje,
Van Den Brink Wim,
Deeg Dorly J. H.,
Eefsting Jan A.,
Van Tilburg Willem
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199909)14:9<748::aid-gps3>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - dementia , cohort , medicine , population , cohort study , survival analysis , severe dementia , gerontology , demography , pediatrics , disease , environmental health , sociology
Objectives To examine predictors of survival time and causes of mortality in a population‐based cohort of demented subjects. Design Longitudinal naturalistic follow‐up study. Setting A rural area in The Netherlands. Participants The study population consisted of 102 demented subjects derived from a population‐based, two‐stage prevalence study of dementia among subjects aged 65 and over. Measurements and analysis Survival analysis was performed using the Realized Probability of Dying as a measure of survival time. Adjustment for duration and severity at study entry was employed in all analyses. Results A substantial excess mortality was present among demented subjects as compared with their non‐demented birth cohort. Disorders related to dementia, such as cachexia, dehydration and pneumonia, were major causes of death. Variables related to severity of functional impairment, aphasia and a shorter duration at study entry predicted a shorter survival in the study population. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.