open access

Vol 44, No 2 (2010)
ARTYKUŁ ORYGINALNY
Submitted: 2009-06-11
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The influence of vascular risk factors on the survival rate of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer disease

Radosław Magierski1, Iwona Kłoszewska1, Tomasz M. Sobów1
DOI: 10.1016/S0028-3843(14)60005-0
·
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2010;44(2):139-147.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Old Age Psychiatry and psychotic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, Czechosłowacka 8/10, 92-216 Łódź, Poland

open access

Vol 44, No 2 (2010)
ARTYKUŁ ORYGINALNY
Submitted: 2009-06-11

Abstract

Background and purpose

The aim of this study was to determine whether dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) progresses more rapidly than Alzheimer disease (AD) and to compare survival after dementia onset and mortality in both dementia groups.

Material and methods

A medical records analysis of AD (n = 183) and DLB (n = 51) patients was performed to determine age at onset of symptoms, the date of first presentation to the psychiatric services, dementia severity at diagnosis (MMSE score), and mean disease duration before diagnosis. Categorical data regarding vascular risk factors were collected. Projected decline rate (MMSE/year), survival rate after the diagnosis of dementia, mean survival time after diagnosis and mortality rate were calculated and compared between DLB and AD groups.

Results

The comparison of clinical and demographic parameters revealed no significant differences between groups, apart from a more pronounced decline rate in the DLB group. Diabetes, and to a lesser extent hypertension, influenced survival in AD, but not in DLB subjects. Overall, however, the difference in mortality rates and survival time between DLB and AD subjects cannot be attributed to the presence of any vascular risk factor analysed. DLB, independently of the presence of vascular risk factors, seems to be a more aggressive disorder than AD, when mortality and survival time are taken into account.

Conclusions

More rapid progression of cognitive decline and shorter duration of dementia were found in DLB in this naturalistic study. The findings may have important implications for the management and treatment of DLB and should be confirmed in prospective studies.

Abstract

Background and purpose

The aim of this study was to determine whether dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) progresses more rapidly than Alzheimer disease (AD) and to compare survival after dementia onset and mortality in both dementia groups.

Material and methods

A medical records analysis of AD (n = 183) and DLB (n = 51) patients was performed to determine age at onset of symptoms, the date of first presentation to the psychiatric services, dementia severity at diagnosis (MMSE score), and mean disease duration before diagnosis. Categorical data regarding vascular risk factors were collected. Projected decline rate (MMSE/year), survival rate after the diagnosis of dementia, mean survival time after diagnosis and mortality rate were calculated and compared between DLB and AD groups.

Results

The comparison of clinical and demographic parameters revealed no significant differences between groups, apart from a more pronounced decline rate in the DLB group. Diabetes, and to a lesser extent hypertension, influenced survival in AD, but not in DLB subjects. Overall, however, the difference in mortality rates and survival time between DLB and AD subjects cannot be attributed to the presence of any vascular risk factor analysed. DLB, independently of the presence of vascular risk factors, seems to be a more aggressive disorder than AD, when mortality and survival time are taken into account.

Conclusions

More rapid progression of cognitive decline and shorter duration of dementia were found in DLB in this naturalistic study. The findings may have important implications for the management and treatment of DLB and should be confirmed in prospective studies.

Get Citation

Keywords

dementia with Lewy bodies, Alzheimer disease, survival, mortality, risk factors

About this article
Title

The influence of vascular risk factors on the survival rate of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer disease

Journal

Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska

Issue

Vol 44, No 2 (2010)

Pages

139-147

Page views

267

Article views/downloads

379

DOI

10.1016/S0028-3843(14)60005-0

Bibliographic record

Neurol Neurochir Pol 2010;44(2):139-147.

Keywords

dementia with Lewy bodies
Alzheimer disease
survival
mortality
risk factors

Authors

Radosław Magierski
Iwona Kłoszewska
Tomasz M. Sobów

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