Nationwide Inpatient Prevalence, Predictors, and Outcomes of Alzheimer's Disease among Older Adults in the United States, 2002-2012

In the inpatient setting, prevalence, predictors, and outcomes [mortality risk (MR), length of stay (LOS), and total charges (TC)] of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are largely unknown. We used data on older adults (60+ y) from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2002-2012. AD prevalence was ∼3.12% in 2012 (total weighted discharges with AD±standard error: 474, 410±6,276). Co-morbidities prevailing more in AD inpatient admissions included depression (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.63-1.71, p < 0.001), fluid/electrolyte disorders (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.22-1.27, p < 0.001), weight loss (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.22-1.30, p < 0.001), and psychosis (OR = 2.59, 95% CI: 2.47-2.71, p < 0.001), with mean total co-morbidities increasing over time. AD was linked to higherMRand longer LOS, but lower TC. TC rose in AD, while MR and LOS dropped markedly over time. In AD, co-morbidities predicting simultaneously higher MR, TC, and LOS (2012) included congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, coagulopathy, fluid/electrolyte disorders, metastatic cancer, paralysis, pulmonary circulatory disorders, and weight loss. In sum, co-morbidities and TC increased over time in AD, whileMRand LOS dropped. Fewco-morbidities predicted occurrence of AD or adverse outcomes in AD.