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Time from diagnosis to institutionalization and death in people with dementia
Author(s) -
Joling Karlijn J.,
Janssen Olin,
Francke Anneke L.,
Verheij Robert A.,
LissenbergWitte Birgit I.,
Visser PieterJelle,
Hout Hein P.J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.12063
Subject(s) - institutionalisation , dementia , polypharmacy , medicine , gerontology , cohabitation , psychiatry , psychology , political science , intensive care medicine , disease , law
Reliable estimates of time from diagnosis until institutionalization and death in people with dementia from routine nationally representative databases are lacking. Methods We selected 9230 people with dementia and 24,624 matched controls from family physicians’ electronic records linked with national administrative databases to analyze time until institutionalization and death and associated factors. Results Median time from recorded diagnosis until institutionalization and until death for people with dementia was 3.9 and 5.0 years, respectively, which was considerably shorter than for controls. Once institutionalized, median time to death was longer for persons with dementia (2.5 years) than for controls (1.2 years). Older age and receiving home care were the strongest predictors of shorter time until institutionalization and death in people with dementia. Gender, cohabitation, migration status, frailty, polypharmacy, and dementia medication were other significant factors. Discussion The estimates could help to inform patients, their families, and policymakers about probable trajectories.