In-hospital death according to dementia diagnosis in acutely ill elderly patients: the REPOSI study

Objective The aim of the study was to explore the association of dementia with in‐hospital death in acutely ill medical patients. Methods Thirty‐four internal medicine and 4 geriatric wards in Italy participated in the Registro Politerapie SIMI—REPOSI—study during 2008. One thousand three hundred and thirty two in‐patients aged 65 years or older were enrolled. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of dementia with in‐hospital death. Socio‐demographic characteristics, morbidity (single diseases and the Charlson Index), number of drugs, and adverse clinical events during hospitalization were considered as potential confounders. Results One hundred and seventeen participants were diagnosed as being affected by dementia. Patients with dementia were more likely to be women, older, to have cerebrovascular diseases, pneumonia, and a higher number of adverse clinical events during hospitalization. The percentage of patients affected by dementia who died during hospitalization was higher than that of patients without dementia (9.4 versus 4.9%). After multiadjustment, the diagnosis of dementia was associated with in‐hospital death (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.0–4.5). Having dementia and at least one adverse clinical event during hospitalization showed an additive effect on in‐hospital mortality (OR = 20.7; 95% CI = 6.9–61.9). Conclusions Acutely ill elderly patients affected by dementia are more likely to die shortly after hospital admission. Having dementia and adverse clinical events during hospital stay increases the risk of death. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.