https://doi.org/10.4081/gc.2026.15755
04 | Prevalence of dementia in a geriatric ward through the years
S.M. Atzori1, P. Masia1, F. Melis1, A. Davoli1, M.L. Cappai1, P. Tedde1, M. Sara1, C. Budroni1, R. Castelli2, P. Tilocca1 | 1Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Sassari; 2Università Degli Studi di Sassari.
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Published: 11 June 2026
Introduction. In 2015, an estimated 46.8 million people worldwide were living with dementia; this number continues to grow. A significant percentage of hospitalized dementia patients will die in hospital.
Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dementia in a cohort of hospitalized patients aged 65 years and older and to analyse its association with other conditions.
Materials and Methods. This is a retrospective study. Discharge letters and hospital discharge forms (SDO) were analyzed for patients admitted to the Geriatrics Department of the Sassari University Hospital between September 2018 and November 2018; between September and November 2020; and between September and November 2024. Statistical analysis was conducted with GraphPad Prism version 10.5.0.
Results. A total of 699 discharge letters and hospital discharge forms were analysed. The mean age of the patients was 82.18 in 2024, 83.70 in 2020, and 85.52 in 2018. Female gender was found to be the predominant gender in the number of hospitalizations over the years. The average number of medications taken was 6.15 in 2018, 5.65 in 2020, and 6.95 in 2024. The number of patients with dementia showed a significant increase from 2018 (45.45% of hospitalized patients) to 2024 (56.17%) of the total hospitalized patients. The most frequently associated pathologies were cardiovascular diseases such as chronic heart failure and atrial fibrillation, chronic renal failure, diabetes mellitus, and chronic obstructive bronchitis. Deaths in hospital increased from 2018 to 2020 and subsequently in 2014: 22.55% in 2024, 16.66% in 2018, and 23% in 2020.
Conclusions. In our study, we observed an increase over the years in the number of patients hospitalized with dementia who died during their hospital stay. Therefore, a careful assessment of care needs, a multidisciplinary approach, and communication with the patient and their family regarding their end-of-life preferences and wishes are important.
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