Survival analysis and causes of death among patients with Alzheimer′s disease in memory clinic: a long-term follow-up study
10.3760/cma.j.cn113694-20240111-00026
- VernacularTitle:记忆门诊阿尔茨海默病患者死亡原因及风险因素：一项长期临床随访研究
- Author:
Jie WU
1
;
Zhenxu XIAO
;
Xiaoxi MA
;
Xiaoniu LIANG
;
Li ZHENG
;
Ding DING
;
Qianhua ZHAO
Author Information
1. 复旦大学附属华山医院神经内科，上海 200040
- Keywords:
Alzheimer disease;
Cause of death;
Survival analysis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Neurology
2024;57(7):755-762
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the cause of death, survival time, and risk factors in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer′s disease (AD) at memory clinic.Methods:The patients with AD were enrolled from the memory clinic at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University between August 2002 and December 2006. Baseline data were collected and 7 rounds of telephone follow-up visits were conducted to track clinical outcomes. For death cases, the date and cause of death were recorded. Patients were divided into several subgroups based on gender and baseline cognition [Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score]. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression models were constructed to analyze the survival time of patients and identify the risk factors.Results:A total of 499 patients were enrolled, including 199 males and 300 females. The follow-up time was 5.5(3.4,7.4) years, with longest follow-up time of 19.3 years. The median survival time after symptom onset was 11.8 years (95% CI 10.2-13.4 years), which was 12.4 years (95% CI 11.2-13.5 years) in females, significantly longer than that in males (10.2 years, 95% CI 9.6-10.8 years, logrank test, P=0.010). The median survival time after diagnosis was 8.3 years (95% CI 7.3-9.4 years), which was 8.8 years (95% CI 6.9-10.6 years) for women, significantly longer than that for men (6.8 years, 95% CI 5.7-7.9 years, logrank test, P=0.001). Patients with baseline MMSE scores≥15 ( n=265) had a median survial of 11.4 years (95% CI 9.5-13.2 years), significantly longer than those with poorer cognitive function (baseline MMSE scores<15; n=234, 7.4 years, 95% CI 6.4-8.4 years, logrank test, P<0.001). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that aging ( HR=1.027, 95% CI 1.002-1.052, P=0.034), lower body mass index (BMI; HR=1.081, 95% CI 1.023-1.139, P=0.007), lower baseline MMSE score ( HR=1.056, 95% CI 1.026-1.086, P<0.001), diabetes ( HR=1.716, 95% CI 1.076-2.735, P=0.023), and history of falls ( HR=1.536,95% CI 1.007-2.341, P=0.046) were independent risk factors for death (all P<0.05). During the follow-up, 224 of the participants died. Except for 62 cases of unknown reason, the top 6 causes of death were pneumonia (39 cases, 24.1%), cerebrovascular disease (24 cases, 14.8%), circulatory system disease(21 cases, 13.0%), multi-organ failure (17 cases, 10.5%), tumor (13 cases, 8.0%), eating disorders and malnutrition (13 cases, 8.0%). Conclusions:In the current study, the median survival time after onset for patients with AD was 11.8 years; aging, lower BMI, lower baseline cognition, comorbidities, and history of falls were independent risk factors for death; pneumonia was the most common cause of death.
