A nationwide cross-sectional survey in Taiwan calculated the prevalence of dementia and BPSD among older adults requiring advanced care. Dementia prevalence was 8.6% overall and 18.0% among those requiring advanced care.
Jhang Kai-Ming and colleagues at Changhua Christian Hospital conducted a nationwide, population-based cross-sectional survey to examine the prevalence of dementia and its behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) among patients requiring advanced care, including enteral feeding, respiratory care, subcutaneous injections, indwelling urinary catheters, stoma and enema care, wound care, pain management and dialysis. The study included a total of 11,297 cases registered between September 2020 and June 2022. Dementia diagnoses were based on specialist home visits or consensus among experts.
Among the main findings, 732 patients (6.5%) required at least 1 type of advanced care, while 975 patients (8.6%) were diagnosed with dementia. Dementia prevalence was higher among patients requiring advanced care. Among BPSD symptoms, reversal of the day-night cycle was reported in 42.0% and care-refusal behavior in 19.8%, both significantly high rates. The groups requiring stoma/enema care, enteral feeding, dialysis, indwelling urinary catheters or respiratory care also showed significantly higher dementia risk.