Table 1 Prognostic indicators for dementia27.
General predictors of end stage illness | Specific prognostic indicators in dementia |
---|---|
Multiple comorbidity with no primary diagnosis | Unable to walk without assistance, and |
Weight loss >10% over 6 months | Urinary and faecal incontinence, and |
General physical decline | Unable to dress without assistance |
Serum albumin <25 g/l | Barthel score <3* |
Reduced performance status/Karnofsky score <50%* | Plus any one of: |
Dependence in most activities of daily living | – 10% weight loss over 6 months without other cause |
– pyelonephritis or urinary tract infection | |
– serum albumin <25 g/l | |
– “high” Waterlow score for pressure score risk | |
– recurrent fever | |
– reduced oral intake/weight loss | |
– aspiration pneumonia |
*The Karnofsky score and Barthel score measure patient performance on activities of daily living with the Karnofsky score giving a percentage value between 10 and 100 and the Barthel score giving a total score out of 20.