New tool helps predict mortality risk in dementia patients
Researchers have developed a A new tool that predicts risk of death
and admission to a long-term care facility for patients with dementia
may help conversations between health care providers, patients and their
families. The research has been published in the CMAJ - Canadian
Medical Association Journal.
The recent
tragic outbreaks of COVID-19 in long-term care homes highlight the need
to have care discussions with residents and their caregivers.
"The
majority of residents in long-term care homes have been diagnosed with
dementia. Our study shows that the survival of many people with dementia
is poor. It may be that many would choose care that focuses on comfort
care and quality of life should they become acutely ill," says Dr. Peter
Tanuseputro, a family physician and researcher with the Bruyère
Research Institute, the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and ICES,
Ottawa, Ontario.
We have developed a tool that asks simple questions about a person at
the time of dementia diagnosis and translates it to the chance of dying
and of entering a nursing home over the next 5 years. This information
can be used in conversations about what to expect," says Dr.
Tanuseputro. "For newly diagnosed dementia patients and their families,
personalized information about their trajectory may be helpful to plan
for the future, including advance care planning and planning for
additional supports."
The study used linked data from ICES on
more than 108 000 people living in the community in Ontario who were
newly diagnosed with dementia from 2010 through 2012.
Researchers
found that more than half of individuals (55%) died within 5 years --
comparable to many cancers -- and almost half of those who died (28%)
lived in institutions. Only 1 in 4 people were still alive and living in
the community 5 years after diagnosis.
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