Background: new services for patients with dementia in general hospitals are being widely developed. Little is known of outcomes after hospital for such patients.
Objective: to establish outcomes for patients with dementia referred to general hospital psychiatric services.
Design: prospective cohort study.
Setting: two UK general hospitals.
Subjects: referrals with dementia to liaison psychiatric services.
Method: eligible referrals (n = 112), and their carers, were assessed during admission, and at 6 and 12 months, using battery of health measurements.
Results: mortality at 6 months was 31% and at 12 months 40%. At baseline, 13% lived in a care home, rising to 84% by 6 months. Quality of life scores remained stable over 12 months, while carer stress fell significantly. Baseline clinical and demographic variables did not predict quality of life or carer stress at 6 and 12 months.
Conclusions: dementia liaison services in general hospitals currently focus on poor outcome cases.
Keywords: dementia; hospital; older people; outcomes.