Association Between Eating Disorders and the Survival in Older Patients with Dementia: Paliative Care Unit-Based Cohort Study

The aim of our study was to identify the peculiarities of eating disorders on the survival rates of patients with dementia. The present, prospective cohort study conducted in palliative care unit and performed with 77 patients admitted to our clinic in 2022-2023. The degree of dementia was assessed by standard valid MMSE, CDR and FAST scales. The presence of eating disorders was diagnosed by EdFED-Q and MNA-SF questionnaires. Eating disorders were presented in 58 patients (76.3%), and dysphagia in 30 (39.0%). Patients with dementia and without eating disorders were included in study group D (n=19); patients with dementia and eating disorders (except dysphagia) were included in study group DE (n=28); patients with dementia, eating disorders and dysphagia were included in study group DED (n=30). Eating disorders (according to the MNA-SF scale) were more significantly manifested in group DED than in groups D and DE (p 0.001, in both cases), and in group DE vs. group D (p=0.003). Survival analysis showed that survival rate in group D was 52.6%, in group DE –17.9%, and in group DED – 3.3%. Hazard ratio (HR) of bad outcome in group DED compared to group D was significant - HR=7.32 (p 0.001); HR between groups DED and DE was also significant - HR=2.67 (p 0.001); HR of bad outcome between groups DE and D was also significant - HR=3.14 (p=0.001). It was concluded that mortality rate was significantly increased if eating disorders were manifested; they became significantly higher if dysphagia was presented.