Research Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College Medical School, Hampstead Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London, UK.
Br Med Bull. 2010;96:159-74. doi: 10.1093/bmb/ldq024. Epub 2010 Jul 30.
The number of people with dementia will rise dramatically over the next 20 years. Currently, one in three people over the age of 65 will die with dementia. A PubMed search using MeSH headings for 'dementia' AND 'palliative care' and for specific areas, i.e. enteral feeding. National reports, UK guidelines and policies were also consulted. Advanced dementia is now being perceived as a 'terminal illness' with a similar symptom burden and prognosis to advanced cancer. People with dementia have poor access to good quality end-of-life care. Interventions such as antibiotics, fever management policies and enteral tube feeding remain in use despite little evidence that they improve quality of life or other outcomes. Research is required on the effectiveness of 'holistic' palliative care, outcome measures and the impact on carers and families.
在未来 20 年内，痴呆症患者的数量将大幅增加。目前，每三个 65 岁以上的人中就有一个会死于痴呆症。使用 MeSH 标题“痴呆症”和“姑息治疗”以及特定领域（即肠内喂养）在 PubMed 上进行了搜索。还查阅了国家报告、英国指南和政策。目前，晚期痴呆症被视为一种“绝症”，其症状负担和预后与晚期癌症相似。痴呆症患者获得高质量临终关怀的机会有限。尽管几乎没有证据表明抗生素、发热管理政策和肠内管饲等干预措施可以改善生活质量或其他结果，但这些干预措施仍在使用。需要研究“整体”姑息治疗的效果、评估方法以及对照顾者和家庭的影响。
