Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the study population of 123 subjects with Alzheimer’s Disease
| Variablesa | Patients N = 123 |
|---|---|
| BMIb, c | 24.9 ± 4.1 |
| Malnourished (BMI < 21 kg/m2)c | 18 (15.4) |
| Charlson comorbidity indexb, d | 1.35 ± 1.11 |
| Number of medications per dayb, e | 4.2 ± 2.6 |
| Polypharmacy (> 3 medications per day) e | 61 (51.3) |
| Psychotropic drugsd | 69 (57.5) |
| Symptomatic treatment of AD f | 106 (87.6) |
| Depression c | 20 (19.6) |
| ADLs b, g | 5.1 ± 1.2 |
| Washing g | 77 (63.1) |
| Dressing g | 83 (68.0) |
| Toileting g | 106 (86.9) |
| Transferring g | 100 (82.0) |
| Continence g | 79 (64.7) |
| Feeding g | 110 (90.2) |
| IADL (not sex dependent) b, e | 1.8 ± 1.2 |
| Ability to use telephone g | 105 (86.1) |
| Ability to do shopping e | 25 (20.8) |
| Ability to use transport g | 61 (50) |
| Ability to manage own treatment f | 29 (24.0) |
| Caregiver’s age b, d | 66.3 ± 14.3 |
| Caregiver’s sex | |
| Male | 36 (29.3) |
| Female | 87 (70.7) |
| Relationship to caregiver: spouse / child | 94 (76.4) |
| Home nurse h | 18 (17.1) |
| Home help for housework i | 57 (53.8) |
| Home delivery of meals i | 9 (8.5) |
| Attending daycare center j | 21 (20.2) |
| NPI score b, d | 13.0 ± 11.7 |
| Delusions g | 24 (19.7) |
| Hallucinations d | 8 (6.7) |
| Agitation/aggression g | 54 (44.3) |
| Dysphoria/depression k | 6 (5.6) |
| Anxiety g | 76 (62.3) |
| Eurphoria g | 34 (27.9) |
| Apathy g | 65 (53.3) |
| Disinhibition g | 25 (20.5) |
| Aberrant motor behaviour e | 9 (7.5) |
| Irritability g | 62 (50.8) |
| Sleep & nighttime behaviour change g | 39 (32.0) |
| Appetite & eating change g | 33 (27.0) |
| Caregiver burden l | 62 (60.8) |
an (%) unless otherwise indicated, b mean ± standard deviation. c 6 missing data, d 3 missing data, e 4 missing data, f 2 missing data, g 1 missing data, h18 missing data, i 17 missing data; j 19 missing data, k 15 missing data, l21 missing data
MMSE Mini Mental State Examination, BMI body mass index, AD Alzheimer’s disease, ADLs Activities of Daily Living, IADL Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, NPI NeuroPsychiatric Inventory