Lymphopenia and poor performance status as major predictors for infections among residents in long-term care facilities (LTCFs): A prospective cohort study

Ching Jen Chang, Liang Yu Chen, Li Kuo Liu, Ming Hsien Lin, Li Ning Peng*, Liang Kung Chen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors and consequence of LTCFs-acquired infections in Taiwan through a 16-month follow-up. This prospective cohort study invited residents of 10 private LTCFs in Taipei for study. For each participant, Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS), use of feeding tube and/or urinary catheters, serum levels of albumin, total cholesterol, complete blood count, occurrence of LTCF-acquired infections, all-cause mortality were recorded. Overall, a total of 198 LTCF residents entered the study for a total of 67,395 resident-days, and 156 participants (79.8. ±. 9.7 years, 51.3% males) complete the follow-up with a total of 67,395 resident-days. During the study period, 360 LTCF-acquired infections occurred, and the incidence was estimated to be 5.34 episodes per 1000 resident-days. Subjects with LTCF-acquired infections were more likely to die than those without infections. Besides, subjects with lymphopenia and long-term use of feeding tube and/or urinary catheters were significant risk factors for LTCF-acquired infections. However, poorer functional status and occurrence of lower respiratory tract infections were significant predictive factors for all-cause mortality. In conclusion, the period prevalence of LTCF-acquired infections was higher in Taiwan than previous reports, but the incidence was similar. In addition to traditional risk factors, lymphopenia, a surrogate indicator for immunosenescence, was a significant risk factor for LTCF-acquired infections.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)440-445
Number of pages6
JournalArchives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
Volume58
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2014

Keywords

  • Immunosenescence
  • Infection
  • Karnofsky performance status
  • Long-term care facility
  • Lymphopenia

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