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Dementia in the acute hospital: the prevalence and clinical outcomes of acutely unwell patients with dementia
Briggs R, Dyer A, Nabeel S, Collins R, Doherty J, Coughlan T, O'Neill D, Kennelly SP.. QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians, 2016-08-02
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Studies have demonstrated that a significant minority of older persons presenting to acute hospital services are cognitively impaired; however, the impact of dementia on long-term outcomes is less clear. Aim To evaluate the prevalence of dementia, both formally diagnosed and hitherto unrecognised in a cohort of acutely unwell older adults, as well as its impact on both immediate outcomes (length of stay and in-hospital mortality) and 12-month outcomes including readmission, institutionalisation and death. Design Prospective observational study. Methods 190 patients aged 70 years and over, presenting to acute hospital services underwent a detailed health assessment including cognitive assessment (standardised Mini Mental State Examination, AD8 and Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit). Patients or informants were contacted directly 12 months later to compile 1-year outcome data. Dementia was defined as a score of 2 or more on the AD8 screening test. Results Dementia was present in over one-third of patients (73/190). Of these patients, 36% (26/73) had a prior documented diagnosis of dementia with the remaining undiagnosed before presentation. The composite outcome of death or readmission to hospital within the following 12 months was more likely to occur in patients with dementia (73% (53/73) vs. 58% (68/117), P = 0.043). This finding persisted after controlling for age, gender, frailty status and medical comorbidities, including stroke and heart disease. Conclusion A diagnosis of dementia confers an increased risk of either death or further admission within the following 12 months, highlighting the need for better cognitive screening in the acute setting, as well as targeted intervention such as comprehensive geriatric assessment.
Key findings
- Background Studies have demonstrated that a significant minority of older persons presenting to acute hospital services are cognitively impaired; however, the impact of dementia on long-term outcomes is less clear.
- Results Dementia was present in over one-third of patients (73/190).
- Conclusion A diagnosis of dementia confers an increased risk of either death or further admission within the following 12 months, highlighting the need for better cognitive screening in the acute setting, as well as targeted intervention such as comprehensive geriatric assessment.
Why it matters
This study found that dementia was present in over one-third of acutely unwell older hospital patients, and most of those cases had not been diagnosed before presentation. Patients with dementia were more likely to die or be readmitted within 12 months.
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Study details
- Participants190
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | QJM: journal h-index 191 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2017 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 190 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 116 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 10.5 citations a year over 11 year(s) since 2017 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 26 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Seán Kennelly: h-index 35 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Trinity College Dublin: institution h-index 926 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 27486262) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Briggs, R., Dyer, A., Nabeel, S., Collins, R., Doherty, J., Coughlan, T., et al. (2017). Dementia in the acute hospital: the prevalence and clinical outcomes of acutely unwell patients with dementia. QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians. https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcw114
Vancouver
Briggs R, Dyer A, Nabeel S, Collins R, Doherty J, Coughlan T, et al. Dementia in the acute hospital: the prevalence and clinical outcomes of acutely unwell patients with dementia. QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians. 2017. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcw114. PMID: 27486262.
BibTeX
@article{briggs2017-27486262,
author = {Briggs, R. and Dyer, A. and Nabeel, S. and Collins, R. and Doherty, J. and Coughlan, T. and O'Neill, D. and Kennelly, S. P.},
title = {{Dementia in the acute hospital: the prevalence and clinical outcomes of acutely unwell patients with dementia}},
journal = {QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1093/qjmed/hcw114},
pmid = {27486262},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcw114}
}
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