Table 4.
Frequency of the most bothersome or challenging issues to patients and care partners
| Most bothersome or challenging issue category, n (%) | AD classification | Total (N = 60) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (n = 12) | Group 2 (n = 12) | Group 3 (n = 12) | Group 4 (n = 12) | Group 5 (n = 12) | ||
| Memory/forgetfulness (includes short-term memory; losing or misplacing things; forgetting medications; forgetting why you walked into a room; forgetting to turn off water or appliances; relying on lists, reminders, or others; long-term memory, other/general memory issues, forgetting friends/family) | 7 (58.3) | 5 (41.7) | 5 (41.7) | 7 (58.3) | 1 (8.3) | 25 (41.7) |
| Othera | 3 (25.0) | 1 (8.3) | 5 (41.7) | 9 (75.0) | 7 (58.3) | 25 (41.7) |
| Changes in behavior or personality (includes angry outbursts [getting mad], being impatient/irritable, being suspicious, anxiety, feeling scared, not wanting to do things you enjoyed before, feeling depressed or sad, feeling frustrated or flustered, getting upset, and other behavior or personality changes [n = 3]) | 1 (8.3) | 1 (8.3) | 3 (25.0) | 7 (58.3) | 2 (16.7) | 14 (23.3) |
| Dependence (includes not being able to care for yourself, not being able to drive, and needing to move out of your home) | 2 (16.7) | 1 (8.3) | 1 (8.3) | 1 (8.3) | 3 (25.0) | 8 (13.3) |
| Communication and language (includes difficulty following conversations, losing train of thought, difficulty finding words and names, not making sense when speaking) | 2 (16.7) | 1 (8.3) | 1 (8.3) | 2 (16.7) | 1 (8.3) | 7 (11.7) |
| Concentration and clear thinking (includes difficulty focusing/paying attention, difficulty managing money, difficulty making decisions) | 2 (16.7) | 3 (25.0) | 1 (8.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 6 (10.0) |
| Awareness of day/time/people (includes knowing where you are and knowing the direction you are going) | 1 (8.3) | 2 (16.7) | 1 (8.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (6.7) |
| Planning (includes difficulty understanding instructions) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (8.3) | 1 (1.7) |
AD Alzheimer’s disease
Note: Information was collected from patients only from groups 1, 2, and 3; from care partners and patients (when able to self-report) in group 4; and from care partners only in group 5. Data shown are the number and percentage of individuals endorsing a symptom in each group and overall
aThe “other” category included issues such as what the future holds/uncertainty/noticing a decline (n = 7), patients feeling as though they are or could become a burden (n = 6), care partners’ need to repeating themselves (n = 4), care partners’ frustration/needing patience (n = 2), care partners’ difficulty keeping on top of patient and family needs and schedules (n = 2), the patient’s inability “to do anything” (n = 1), safety issues (n = 1), and the patient sleeping a lot (n = 1)