Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39888603›Full record

SynthesisAge and ageing2025

Behavioural and psychological symptoms of people with dementia in acute hospital settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Kanthee Anantapong, Aimorn Jiraphan, Warut Aunjitsakul, Katti Sathaporn, Nisan Werachattawan, Teerapat Teetharatkul, Pakawat Wiwattanaworaset, Nathan Davies, Elizabeth L Sampson

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Age and ageing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
22citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

22 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  12. Brexpiprazole for the Treatment of Agitation Associated with Dementia due to Alzheimer's Disease: Clinical Perspectives.Clinical psychopharmacology and neuroscience : the official scientific journal of the Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2026
    Review
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  15. Neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease: Bridging mechanisms, management, and emerging innovations.Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics · 2026
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Kanthee AnantapongDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0003-3190-4355
Aimorn JiraphanDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0001-7441-4511
Warut AunjitsakulDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0001-8774-3592
Katti SathapornDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0001-9056-582X
Nisan WerachattawanDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand.
Teerapat TeetharatkulDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0003-1716-7619
Pakawat WiwattanaworasetDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0002-3560-0415
Nathan DaviesCentre for Psychiatry and Mental Health, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, E13 8SP, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.ORCID 0000-0001-7757-5353
Elizabeth L SampsonCentre for Psychiatry and Mental Health, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, E13 8SP, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.ORCID 0000-0001-8929-7362

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBehavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) can complicate acute hospital care, but evidence on BPSD in this setting is heterogeneous.

objectiveTo determine the prevalence of BPSD in acute hospitals and explore related risk factors, treatments, and outcomes (PROSPERO: CRD42023406294).

methodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO for studies on BPSD prevalence among older people with dementia during their acute hospital admissions (up to 5 March 2024). Independent double-review processes were used for study screening, selection, and data extraction. Data on 12 BPSD symptoms were extracted based on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI) and Behavioural Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease (BEHAVE-ad). Risk factors, treatments, and outcomes were summarised. Meta-analysis was used to synthesise results.

resultsOut of 15 101 records, 30 articles from 23 studies were included. Most studies were rated as moderate (n = 12) to poor (n = 17) quality. Meta-analysis revealed a pooled prevalence of overall BPSD (one or more BPSD symptoms) at 60% (95% CI = 43-78%) among older inpatients with dementia in acute hospitals (N = 11 studies). Subgroup analysis showed variations in the overall BPSD prevalence based on assessment tools (BEHAVE-ad = 85%, NPI = 74%, Others = 40%). Common BPSD symptoms included aggression/agitation (39%), sleep problems (38%), eating problems (36%), and irritability (32%). BPSD were linked to delirium, pain, increased use of uncomfortable interventions, psychotropic medication uses and higher caregiver distress. Poor patient-staff interactions and fragmented discharge plans often led to frequent emergency admissions and hospital readmissions.

conclusionHealthcare systems should implement tailored approaches for managing BPSD in acute hospitals, enhance staff training, improve caregiver communication, and develop integrated discharge plans.

Indexed as

Behavioral SymptomsDementiaAgedAged, 80 and overHospitalizationHumansPrevalenceRisk Factorscognitive impairmentdementiahospital careinpatientolder peoplepsychiatric symptomsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID39888603
PMCPMC11784590

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.