[Dementia syndromes and length of stay of elderly patients in internal medicine].

Dementia is frequently observed in elderly patients admitted in Internal Medicine Units. Study of prospective data allowed comparison between 199 demented patients and 601 non demented ones, for life conditions, hospitalization parameters, way of discharge and associated diseases. Age and sex ratio are equal. Demented patients live more frequently in geriatric institutions and require more often nurse care at home. For them, social care is more frequent during hospitalization. There is no significant difference for mean duration of stay, discharge in step down unit and mortality. In both groups the predictive factors for the duration of stay are the need for social care during hospitalization and the number of comorbidities. In patients with degenerative dementia, hypertension and cardiopathies are less frequent than among other patients. These data suggest that adequate care, including social care, may produce the same duration of stay and way of discharge for demented and non demented elderly patients in Internal Medicine Units.