Table 4.
Identified prognostic indicators with strength of association with mortality (where given) of 6-month mortality in advanced dementia patients.
| Category | Factors | Hazard ratio | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nutrition, nourishment, and eating | Decreased appetite13 | Not given | Not given |
| Anorexia11,12,17 | 2.2217 | 1.52–3.4417 | |
| <25% food eaten15,16 | 1.5 | 1.4–1.7 | |
| Dry mouth17 | 1.81a | 1.23–2.67a | |
| Cachexia17 | 1.27a | 1.03–1.55a | |
| Trouble swallowing, decreased fluid intake, and weight change as measured for AHOPE14 | Not given | Not given | |
| General malnutrition11,12 | Not given | Not given | |
| Increased risk score on relevant scale | ADEPT17 | Not given | Not given |
| AHOPE 22+14 | Not given | Not given | |
| FAST 7c13 | Not given | Not given | |
| MDS/Mitchell 9+15 | Not given | Not given | |
| MSSE 7+11,12 | 1.9516 | 1.17–3.2516 | |
| Comorbidities | Decubitus ulcers as measured for MSSE16,17/ADEPT11 | Not given | Not given |
| Cancer12 | 1.7 | 1.5–1.9 | |
| Congestive heart failure15,16 | 1.6 | 1.4–1.7 | |
| Incontinence13,15,16 | 1.55 | 1.3–1.75 | |
| Generally, more comorbid conditions associated with decreased survival13,15,17 | 1.10a,17 | 0.99–1.21a,17 | |
| Functional/cognitive impairment | Decreased activities of daily living scores (28 or less)13,15,16 | 1.915 | 1.7–2.115 |
| Impairments associated with FAST 7c13 | Not given | Not given | |
| Decreased KPS scores17 | 1.09 | 0.99–1.18 | |
| Level of consciousness as measured for AHOPE14 | Not given | Not given | |
| Not awake most of the day, as measured for MDS/Mitchell15 | 1.4 | 1.2–1.6 | |
| Ambulation/mobility | Ambulation as measured for AHOPE14 | Not given | Not given |
| Generally impaired mobility13 | Not given | Not given | |
| Bedfast as measured for MDS/Mitchell/ADEPT15,16 | 1.5 | 1.3–1.7 | |
| Unstable medical condition | Oxygen therapy15 | 1.6 | 1.4–1.8 |
| Shortness of breath15,16 | 1.515 | 1.3–1.915 | |
| Unstable medical condition as measured for MDS/Mitchell15 | 1.5 | 1.3–1.6 | |
| Unstable medical condition as measured for MSSE11,12 | Not given | Not given | |
| Demographics | Aged 83+15 | 1.4 | 1.3–1.6 |
| Aged 87+11 | Not given | Not given | |
| Married17 | 2.29 | 1.78–2.77 | |
| Male15,16 | 1.9 | 1.7–2.1 | |
| Speech/language | Impaired as measured for FAST13 | Not given | Not given |
| Impaired as measured for AHOPE14 | Not given | Not given | |
| Hematology | Total hemoglobin11,12 | 1.1312 | 1.00–1.2712 |
| Total cholesterol11 | 0.99512 | 0.991–1.0012 | |
| Total protein levels11 | 0.63712 | 0.497–0.81712 | |
| Signs of suffering | Not calm, screaming, pain, and suffering according to medical and family opinions, as measured for MSSE11,12 | Not given | Not given |
ADEPT: Advanced Dementia Prognostic Tool; FAST: Functional Assessment Staging; MMSE: Mini-Mental State Examination; MSSE: Mini-Suffering State Examination; AHOPE: Alzheimer’s-Hospice Placement Evaluation Scale; MDS: Mitchell Novel Risk Score.
Prognosticator category is listed in descending order of consensus between studies.
a
Indicates results from univariate Cox regression models; all other results, where present, from Multivariate regressions.