Mary C. Zonsius is an assistant professor in the Department of Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing and an assistant dean of evaluation at the Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago. Fawn A. Cothran is an assistant professor at the UC Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, Sacramento, CA. Joanne M. Miller is an associate professor emeritus at the Rush University College of Nursing. Contact author: Mary C. Zonsius,
Am J Nurs. 2020 Apr;120(4):34-42. doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000660024.45260.1a.
Among adults ages 65 and older, dementia doubles the risk of hospitalization. Roughly one in four hospitalized patients has dementia, and the prevalence of dementia in the United States is rising rapidly. Patients with dementia have significantly higher rates of hospital-acquired complications, including urinary tract infections, pressure injuries, pneumonia, and delirium, which when unrecognized and untreated can accelerate physical and cognitive decline, precipitating nursing home placement and death. The authors discuss the unique needs of patients with dementia who require acute care, highlighting evidence-based strategies for nurses to incorporate into practice.
在 65 岁及以上的成年人中，痴呆症使住院的风险增加了一倍。大约每四名住院患者中就有一名患有痴呆症，而且美国痴呆症的患病率正在迅速上升。痴呆症患者发生医院获得性并发症的比率显著更高，包括尿路感染、压疮、肺炎和谵妄，如果这些并发症没有被识别和治疗，可能会加速身体和认知能力的下降，导致需要入住疗养院和死亡。作者讨论了需要急性护理的痴呆症患者的独特需求，强调了护士将基于证据的策略纳入实践的重要性。
