Changes in survival in demented hospital inpatients 1957–1987

Abstract

AbstractSeven cohorts of demented elderly patients who died in Crichton Royal Hospital between the years 1957 and 1987 were identified and their survival time during their terminal admission noted. There was an increase in mean survival time over this period which did not appear due to changes in age or in level of disability at the time of final admission, or in willingness to treat concurrent physical illness following admission. There was some evidence that treatments available for concurrent physical illness were more effective in postponing mortality in the later cohorts. It is suggested that, over the study period, medical advances have extended the life expectancy of the general population including those who develop dementia. Within the latter subgroup, however, there is no evidence that the time of onset or rate of decline to terminal disability of dementia has changed.