Effectively Caring for Individuals With Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Keng, Alvin; Brown, Eric E.; Rostas, Aviva; Rajji, Tarek K.; Pollock, Bruce G.; Mulsant, Benoit H.; Kumar, Sanjeev

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.573367

Cited by 55 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 88 publications

(90 reference statements)

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“…6,7,9,17,18,20 Worsening symptoms may be due to lack of mental stimulation as well as disrupted daily routines. 20,32 Cancellation of recreational activities or reduction of visits from family or friends due to COVID-19 can negatively influence PLWD. 32 Taking care of PLWD with worsening symptoms might have caused stress and anxiety in the dementia caregivers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of COVID-19 on Dementia Caregivers and Factors Associated With their Anxiety Symptoms

Hwang

Connell

Rajpara

et al. 2021

Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen

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Little is known about the family experience of caregiving for persons living with dementia (PLWD) at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of COVID-19 on concerns of current family caregivers of PLWD. Study participants were recruited from the parent study, Healthy Patterns Clinical Trial (NCT03682185). Data was collected from 34 caregivers via semi-structured telephone interviews. Over 70% of the study participants reported worrying about spreading COVID-19 to the PLWD, 41% reported they had taken on additional caregiving duties for others in their family since COVID-19, and 62% reported one or more anxiety symptoms. Dementia caregivers who reported anxiety symptoms reported lower scores on functional independence of their care recipients compared to dementia caregivers who did not report anxiety symptoms ( p=0.036). Health care professionals should be alert to the concerns expressed by dementia caregivers for their well-being during this unprecedented pandemic.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of COVID-19 on Dementia Caregivers and Factors Associated With their Anxiety Symptoms

Hwang

Connell

Rajpara

et al. 2021

Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In an ecological study by Azarpazhooh et al (31), healthy life-expectancy and dementia disability adjusted life years (DALY) were significantly related to the COVID-19 caseloads and mortality. Studies have also shown significant impact of COVID-19 related lifestyle changes, social isolation, loneliness and quarantine measures on the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), especially sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, agitation and wandering (32,33)…”

Section: Potential Worsening Of Dementia With Covid-19 Infectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caring for Persons Living With Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Advocacy Perspectives From India

D’cruz

Banerjee

2020

Front. Psychiatry

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The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented an unprecedented threat to global public and psychosocial health. Certain vulnerable populations, especially the older adults, are at disproportionate risks both to the physiological and social effects of the outbreak. A special section among them who face unique challenges during this pandemic, are those living with neurocognitive disorders, like dementia. Limited research in the field shows ApoE4 allele to confer an increased risk for COVID-19 severity, while the behavioral problems associated with dementia reduces compliance to precautionary measures, thereby exposing them to the virus and increasing caregiver strain. Reduced healthcare access, limited resources and fear of the infection act as major barriers to dementia care during such a crisis. Besides, there are the additional burden of stigma, abuse, ageism and financial impoverishment. Institutionalization, loneliness and lack of stimulation can potentially accelerate the cognitive decline and worsen the behavioral and psychological problems. India has been one of the worst hit countries by COVID-19 and shares a significant dementia load. As the country is aging fast along with the world, this commentary reviews the risks of people living with dementia during the pandemic and discusses certain advocacies for their care.

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“…A significant interaction between the nursing home residence variable and dementia in COVID-19 patients was observed. The results can be potentially explained by a higher exposure and infection risk of demented nursing home residents caused by a lower ability to adhere to the needed isolation behaviors (68). COVID-19 exposure in nursing home has been reported by others and is a common issue in several countries (24,69).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Comparing COVID-19 and Influenza Presentation and Trajectory

et al. 2021

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Background: COVID-19 is a newly recognized illness with a predominantly respiratory presentation. It is important to characterize the differences in disease presentation and trajectory between COVID-19 patients and other patients with common respiratory illnesses. These differences can enhance knowledge of pathogenesis and help in guiding treatment.Methods: Data from electronic medical records were obtained from individuals admitted with respiratory illnesses to Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel, between October 1st, 2014 and October 1st, 2020. Four groups of patients were defined: COVID-19 (693), influenza (1,612), severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) (2,292), and Others (4,054). The variable analyzed include demographics (7), vital signs (8), lab tests (38), and comorbidities (15) from a total of 8,651 hospitalized adult patients. Statistical analysis was performed on biomarkers measured at admission and for their disease trajectory in the first 48 h of hospitalization, and on comorobidity prevalence.Results: COVID-19 patients were overall younger in age and had higher body mass index, compared to influenza and SARI. Comorbidity burden was lower in the COVID-19 group compared to influenza and SARI. Severely- and moderately-ill COVID-19 patients older than 65 years of age suffered higher rate of in-hospital mortality compared to hospitalized influenza patients. At admission, white blood cells and neutrophils were lower among COVID-19 patients compared to influenza and SARI patients, while pulse rate and lymphoctye percentage were higher. Trajectories of variables during the first 2 days of hospitalization revealed that white blood count, neutrophils percentage and glucose in blood increased among COVID-19 patients, while decreasing among other patients.Conclusions: The intrinsic virulence of COVID-19 appeared higher than influenza. In addition, several critical functions, such as immune response, coagulation, heart and respiratory function, and metabolism were uniquely affected by COVID-19.

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Effectively Caring for Individuals With Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cited by 55 publications

References 88 publications

Impact of COVID-19 on Dementia Caregivers and Factors Associated With their Anxiety Symptoms

Impact of COVID-19 on Dementia Caregivers and Factors Associated With their Anxiety Symptoms

Caring for Persons Living With Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Advocacy Perspectives From India

Comparing COVID-19 and Influenza Presentation and Trajectory

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