Iris Zahirovic1, Carina Wattmo2, Gustav Torisson2, Lennart Minthon2, Elisabet Londos2. 1. Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Sweden. Electronic address: iris.zahirovic@med.lu.se. 2. Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate and establish the prevalence of dementia with Lewy body (DLB) symptoms in all nursing home (NH) residents in Malmö, the third largest city in Sweden. DLB is a neurocognitive disorder with core features, such as parkinsonism, visual hallucinations, and fluctuating cognition/excessive daytime sleepiness, and supportive features, such as rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. DLB is often misdiagnosed and unrecognized in elderly individuals. DESIGN: A questionnaire, designed to cover the main DLB symptoms, according to consensus criteria from the third report of the DLB Consortium from 2005, was distributed in 40 NHs. The questionnaires were completed by the nursing staff after receiving specifically designed teaching. Medication lists were collected from the Swedish national medication dispensing system. SETTING: Nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: Of 650 eligible residents, 620 (96%) were included. The mean age was 86.0 ± 7.5 years; 467 (75%) were women. RESULTS: We found a prevalence of 16% of 2 or more main symptoms of DLB in the NH residents. However, when a wider more inclusive parkinsonism variable was used, the prevalence of DLB symptoms increased to 20%. CONCLUSION: We conclude that elderly with 2 or more DLB symptoms may constitute between 16% and 20% of all residents in NHs. This emphasizes the importance of identification of DLB and guides clinicians to deliver appropriate treatment for this fragile patient group.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate and establish the prevalence of dementia with Lewy body (DLB) symptoms in all nursing home (NH) residents in Malmö, the third largest city in Sweden. DLB is a neurocognitive disorder with core features, such as parkinsonism, visual hallucinations, and fluctuating cognition/excessive daytime sleepiness, and supportive features, such as rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. DLB is often misdiagnosed and unrecognized in elderly individuals. DESIGN: A questionnaire, designed to cover the main DLB symptoms, according to consensus criteria from the third report of the DLB Consortium from 2005, was distributed in 40 NHs. The questionnaires were completed by the nursing staff after receiving specifically designed teaching. Medication lists were collected from the Swedish national medication dispensing system. SETTING: Nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: Of 650 eligible residents, 620 (96%) were included. The mean age was 86.0 ± 7.5 years; 467 (75%) were women. RESULTS: We found a prevalence of 16% of 2 or more main symptoms of DLB in the NH residents. However, when a wider more inclusive parkinsonism variable was used, the prevalence of DLB symptoms increased to 20%. CONCLUSION: We conclude that elderly with 2 or more DLB symptoms may constitute between 16% and 20% of all residents in NHs. This emphasizes the importance of identification of DLB and guides clinicians to deliver appropriate treatment for this fragile patient group.
Authors: Alessandro Morandi; Daniel Davis; Giuseppe Bellelli; Rakesh C Arora; Gideon A Caplan; Barbara Kamholz; Ann Kolanowski; Donna Marie Fick; Stefan Kreisel; Alasdair MacLullich; David Meagher; Karen Neufeld; Pratik P Pandharipande; Sarah Richardson; Arjen J C Slooter; John P Taylor; Christine Thomas; Zoë Tieges; Andrew Teodorczuk; Philippe Voyer; James L Rudolph Journal: J Am Med Dir Assoc Date: 2016-09-16 Impact factor: 4.669
Authors: A Mouton; F Blanc; A Gros; V Manera; R Fabre; E Sauleau; I Gomez-Luporsi; K Tifratene; L Friedman; S Thümmler; C Pradier; P H Robert; R David Journal: Alzheimers Res Ther Date: 2018-09-12 Impact factor: 6.982