Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
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Observational Study
One-year stability of care dependency in patients with advanced chronic organ failure.
Care dependency is a determinant of quality of life and survival among patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic heart failure (CHF), or chronic renal failure (CRF). The objectives of this study were to explore the profiles of care dependency in patients with advanced COPD, CHF, or CRF; to study the changes in care dependency during 1-year follow-up; and to study whether 1-year changes in care dependency are comparable between patients with advanced COPD, CHF, or CRF. ⋯ Care dependency profiles differ between patients with COPD, CHF, or CRF. Patients with advanced COPD are at risk for a 1-year increase in care dependency. Regular assessment of care dependency and addressing care dependency in palliative care programs for patients with advanced COPD, CHF, or CRF are needed.
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To compare the costs of care for community-dwelling dementia patients with the costs of care for dementia patients living in nursing homes from the societal perspective. ⋯ From the societal perspective care for dementia patients living in the community tends to cost more than care in nursing homes when functional impairment is controlled for.