Physical complications for elderly inpatients with senile dementia in the Imaise Branch of Ichinomiya City Hospital

Abstract

Background: In the present study, we investigated the physical complications of elderly patients with senile dementia in the Department of Psychogeriatrics, Imaise Branch, Ichinomiya City Hospital. Methods: Physical complications that occurred in our ward in the 12 months from April 2007 to March 2008 were recorded. Our ward has 50 beds and, over the 12 months, the average occupation rate was approximately 90%. We subdivided physical complications into two categories: (i) serious emergencies occurring in the ward with a possible high risk of mortality within a few days (e.g. pneumonia and upper airway obstruction); and (ii) life-threatening complications arising in the ward that required diagnosis and treatment by specialists from other medical departments (e.g. bone fracture and cancer). Results: Serious emergencies with a high risk of mortality occurred 56 times. Six patients died. Life-threatening complications requiring diagnosis and treatment by specialists from other departments occurred 44 times. Both categories of physical complications in occurred at a high rate, with various types of diseases recorded. Conclusions:The present study confirms the high frequency of physical complications that require treatment in facilities for patients with senile dementia. It is necessary to diagnose and treat these various physical complications and to cooperate with specialists from other medical departments.

Exploratory Study of Factors Influencing Job-Related Stress in Japanese Psychiatric Nurses

“…When psychiatric care was surveyed in recent years, it was observed that psychiatric patients were aging [ 3 ]. More than half of psychiatric patients suffer from internal diseases [ 39 ], and elderly psychiatric patients have multiple diseases and nursing needs, suffering from both mental illness and physical complications [ 4 ]. Psychiatric nurses have to pay attention to many medical conditions of patients.…”

“…Further, psychiatric patients are aging, leading to an increase in the number of patients with dementia; more than 40% of the total patient population is now over 65 years old [ 3 ]. Elderly patients often have physical complaints [ 4 ], and approximately 90% of elderly patients with dementia in psychiatric care have been reported to have physical complications that require treatment [ 5 ].…”

Treatment in a ward for elderly patients with dementia in Japan

“…Therefore, we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who were admitted to a WED, with a focus on physical complications, because these often interrupt treatment and lead to transfer to another hospital 8. Ukai et al9 and Ukai and Mizuno10 found a high frequency of physical complications in a WED that required treatment by specialists of other medical departments, and Ono et al11 reported that physical complication was a predictor of a longer stay in a WED. Therefore, to identify risk factors related to physical complications, we compared the characteristics of patients transferred to another hospital or ward because of physical complications with those of all other patients.…”

Job-related stress in psychiatric nurses in Japan caring for elderly patients with dementia

“…1). A survey on coexisting physical illnesses in geriatric dementia patients on psychiatric wards found a high prevalence of serious physical complications requiring diagnosis and treatment by specialists of other departments [49]. The psychiatric dementia wards that are the focus of the present study are not psychiatric wards in general hospitals.…”