Survival after multiple hospitalizations for infections and dehydration in nursing home residents with advanced cognitive impairment.

Survival AfterMultiple Hospitalizations for Infections andDehydration in NursingHome ResidentsWith Advanced Cognitive Impairment Multiple hospitalizations for complications from a terminal illness may be burdensome for elderly patients and reflect poor quality care. Infections and eating problems are 2 such complications characterizing the final stage of dementia.1 In a previous study,1 burdensome health care transitions weredefinedas 2ormorehospitalizations for infectionsordehydration during the last 90 days of life in nursing home (NH) residents with advanced cognitive impairment. The objective of this studywas to examine a related issue: whether the occurrence of multiple hospitalizations for these complications was associated with survival.