Dementia Is Associated with In-Hospital Mortality and Prolonged Length of Stay: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis on Administrative Data

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: To investigate the relationship between dementia and hospital outcomes (in-hospital mortality and prolonged length of stay). <b>Methods</b>: A retrospective study was conducted considering all hospital admissions performed between 1st January 2018 and 31st December 2023 in the Abruzzo region, Italy. The study was conducted on a large sample including all elderly patients admitted to hospital in a Southern Italian region during a six year period. To compare outcomes between patients with and without dementia, a propensity score matching procedure was performed using a multivariable logistic model adjusted for age and gender and comorbidities. Odds ratios for primary and secondary outcomes were computed using logistic regression models. <b>Results</b>: After the matching procedure, 25,476 patients were included in the analyses: 12,738 with dementia and 12,738 controls. Logistic regression models showed that dementia was associated with in-hospital mortality (OR: 2.02; 95% CI 1.91-2.18; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and prolonged length of stay (OR: 1.44; 95% CI 1.29-1.58; <i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions</b>: In a large cohort of Italian patients, dementia was associated with in-hospital mortality and prolonged length of stay.