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Dementia and intentional and unintentional poisoning in older people: a 10 year review of hospitalization records in New South Wales, Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2015

Rebecca J. Mitchell ,
Lara A. Harvey ,
Henry Brodaty ,
Brian Draper  and
Jacqueline C. T. Close
Rebecca J. Mitchell*
Affiliation:
Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Australia Falls and Injury Prevention Group, Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Australia
Lara A. Harvey
Affiliation:
Falls and Injury Prevention Group, Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Australia
Henry Brodaty
Affiliation:
Dementia Collaborative Research Centre - Assessment and Better Care, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Australia Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Australia
Brian Draper
Affiliation:
Dementia Collaborative Research Centre - Assessment and Better Care, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Australia Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Australia
Jacqueline C. T. Close
Affiliation:
Falls and Injury Prevention Group, Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Australia Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Rebecca Mitchell, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, Macquarie University NSW 2109, Australia. Phone: +61 2 9850 2321; Fax: +61 2 8088 6234. Email: r.mitchell@mq.edu.au.
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Abstract

Background:

Medicinal substances have been identified as common agents of both unintentional and intentional poisoning among older people, including those with dementia. This study aims to compare the characteristics of poisoning resulting in hospitalization in older people with and without dementia and their clinical outcomes.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study involving an examination of poisoning by intent involving individuals aged 50+ years with and without dementia using linked hospitalization and mortality records during 2003–2012. Individuals who had dementia were identified from hospital diagnoses and unintentional and intentional poisoning was identified using external cause classifications. The epidemiological profile (i.e. individual and incident characteristics) of poisoning by intent and dementia status was compared, along with clinical outcomes of hospital length of stay (LOS), 28-day readmission and 30-day mortality.

Results:

The hospitalization rate for unintentional and intentional poisoning for individuals with dementia was double and 1.5 times higher than the rates for individuals without dementia (69.5 and 31.6 per 100,000) and (56.4 and 32.5 per 1,00,000). The home was the most common location of poisoning. Unintentional poisoning was more likely to involve individuals residing in aged care facilities (OR 2.12; 95%CI 1.70–2.63) or health service facilities (OR 3.91; 95%CI 3.45–4.42). There were higher mortality rates and longer LOS for unintentional poisoning for individuals with dementia.

Conclusions:

Clinicians need to be aware of the risks of poisoning for individuals with dementia and care is required in appropriate prescription, safe administration, and potential for self-harm with commonly used medications, such as anticholinesterase medications, antihypertensive drugs, and laxatives.

Keywords

dementiapoisoningintentionhospitalizationdeath
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 27 , Issue 11 , November 2015 , pp. 1757 - 1768
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2015 

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