Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
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To study the effects of functional decline on admission to long-term institutionalized care within 12 months from acute hospital admission. ⋯ Loss of function in ADL tasks following hospitalization increased the risk for institutionalization, irrespective of preadmission ADL impairment. Potentially, counteracting loss of function in ADLs after acute hospital admission by more intensive rehabilitation may partly reduce the need for institutionalization.
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The association of apathy with Alzheimer disease and other dementias and caregiver burden has been examined in a number of studies; however, less is known about its relationship with delirium and mortality. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, relationship with delirium and dementia, and prognostic value of apathy in an elderly and frail inpatient population. ⋯ Apathy is a common and serious neuropsychiatric symptom associated with cognitive decline, delirium, and disability, and it also independently predicts mortality.