Title : Inpatient hospitalizations for Dementia in the United States: A 2022 national analysis
Abstract:
Objective: To analyze the characteristics of patients with dementia admitted as inpatients in the U.S. in 2022.
Intro/Background: According to the World Health Organization, 57 million people around the world live with dementia. The symptoms of dementia include impaired short-term memory, aphasia, executive dysfunction, and altered behavior, impacting activities of daily living. Few studies assessed the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with dementia admitted to the hospital, especially in large data sets.
Methods: We analyzed the national inpatient sample (NIS) 2022 and extracted data related to dementia using ICD-10 diagnosis codes. Data regarding demographic and clinical characteristics, including etiologies of dementia and investigations performed, were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA software.
Results: There were 21,076 patients. 53% were female. The mean age was 76 (SD=13). 74% were White, 14% Black, 7% Latino, 2% asian, 0.4% Native American, 2% other. The mean length of stay (LOS) was 12 days. 19.5% of patients were diagnosed with vascular dementia, 80.16% with other types of dementia and 0.31% had dementia due to another underlying condition. Patients with dementia underwent lumbar puncture (n=493), psychotherapy (n=360) and EEG (n=310).
Conclusion: Dementia was more common in females in the hospital setting. Patients with dementia had a longer LOS in the hospital. One in five patients with dementia had a vascular etiology. The most common procedures performed on patients with dementia were lumbar puncture, psychotherapy, and EEG. Larger studies analyzing temporal trends are needed to substantiate our findings, assess economic impact, and plan dementia care in inpatient settings.
