Soto Maria E, Nourhashemi Fati, Arbus Christophe, Villars Hélène, Balardy Laurent, Andrieu Sandrine, Vellas Bruno
CHU Toulouse, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Toulouse, France.
Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2008 Feb;23(2):215-9. doi: 10.1002/gps.1865.
To describe the cognitive, functional, and nutritional features of patients admitted to a Special Acute Care Unit (SACU) for elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
One-year observational study of patients with AD and other related disorders hospitalized in the SACU, Department of Geriatrics, Toulouse university Hospital during 2005. A comprehensive neurocognitive and non-cognitive geriatric assessment was performed. Data on full clinical evaluation, nutritional status, activities of daily living (ADL), gait and balance disturbance, behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD), and sociodemographics were recorded.
Four-hundred and ninety-two patients were assessed. Their mean age was 81.1+/-7.7, the mean length of stay was 10.7+/-6.3 days, 62% were female, 63.9% were admitted from their own home and 30.4% from a nursing home. Eighty percent of patients had probable Alzheimer's disease or mixed dementia, less than 20% had other causes of dementia. Results of their comprehensive assessment showed a mean mini-mental state examination of 14.5+/-7.4; a mean total ADL score of 3.7+/-1.7. Seventy-seven percent had gait or balance disturbances; 90% of patients presented an unsatisfactory nutritional status. The most common reason for admission was BPSD.
AD complications are responsible for many acute admissions. Elderly patients suffering from dementia represent a population with unique clinical characteristics. Further randomised clinical trials are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of Special Acute Care Units for patients with AD and other related disorders.
描述入住老年痴呆症（AD）患者特殊急性护理单元（SACU）的患者的认知、功能和营养特征。
对2005年图卢兹大学医院老年病科SACU收治的AD及其他相关疾病患者进行为期一年的观察性研究。进行了全面的神经认知和非认知老年评估。记录了完整临床评估、营养状况、日常生活活动（ADL）、步态和平衡障碍、行为和心理症状（BPSD）以及社会人口统计学数据。
共评估了492例患者。他们的平均年龄为81.1±7.7岁，平均住院时间为10.7±6.3天，62%为女性，63.9%从自己家中入院，30.4%从养老院入院。80%的患者患有可能的阿尔茨海默病或混合性痴呆，不到20%有其他痴呆病因。综合评估结果显示，简易精神状态检查平均得分为14.5±7.4；ADL总分平均为3.7±1.7。77%的患者存在步态或平衡障碍；90%的患者营养状况不佳。最常见的入院原因是BPSD。
AD并发症导致许多急性入院情况。患有痴呆症的老年患者是具有独特临床特征的人群。需要进一步的随机临床试验来评估特殊急性护理单元对AD及其他相关疾病患者的有效性。
