COMORBIDITY AND DRUG-USE IN COGNITIVELY IMPAIRED ELDERLY LIVING IN LONG-TERM-CARE

Cognitive impairment is associated with an increased mortality in olde r people. The prevalence and impact of comorbidity on functional statu s and mortality of demented patients has not been fully elucidated. Us ing a population-based data set, we describe the prevalence of cogniti ve impairment, functional status, principal comorbid conditions and I- year survival for over 300,000 patients admitted to the nursing homes in five US states. Sixty-one percent of patients have some level of co gnitive impairment, and this correlates with the degree of physical fr ailty. Severer cognitive impairment is associated with a higher mortal ity rate. Yet, patients with cognitive impairment appear to have fewer comorbid conditions and are less likely to receive medications and sp ecial treatments than residents with normal cognitive status. Addition al studies are needed to understand whether demented patients may para doxically be considered healthier or, instead, are only neglected.