IMPORTANCE
Hospitalizations are associated with cognitive decline in older adults.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between hospitalization characteristics and the trajectory of cognitive function in older adults.
DESIGN
Population‐based longitudinal study of cognitive aging.
SETTING
Olmsted Medical Center and Mayo Clinic, the only centers in Olmsted County, Minnesota, with hospitalization capacity.
PARTICIPANTS
Individuals without dementia at baseline, with consecutive cognitive assessments from 2004 through 2017, and at least one visit after the age of 60.
MEASUREMENTS
The primary outcome was longitudinal changes in global cognitive z‐score. Secondary outcomes were changes in four cognitive domains: memory, attention/executive function, language, and visuospatial skills. Hospitalization characteristics analyzed included elective versus nonelective, medical versus surgical, critical care versus no critical care admission, and long versus short duration admissions.
RESULTS
Of 4,587 participants, 1,622 had 1 and more hospital admission. Before hospitalization, the average slope of the global z‐score was −0.031 units/year. After hospitalization, the rate of annual global z‐score accelerated by −0.051 (95% CI = −0.057, −0.045) units, P < .001, resulting in an estimated annual slope after the first hospitalization of −0.082. The accelerated decline was found in all four cognitive domains (memory, visuospatial, language, and executive, all P < .001). The acceleration of the decline in global z‐score following hospitalization was greater for medical compared to surgical hospitalizations (slope change following hospitalization = −0.064 vs −0.034 for medical vs surgical, P < .001), and nonelective compared to elective admissions (slope change following hospitalization = −0.075 vs −0.037 for nonelective vs elective, P < .001). The acceleration of cognitive decline was not different for hospitalization with intensive care unit admission versus not.
CONCLUSIONS
Hospitalization of older adults is associated with accelerated decline of global and domain‐specific cognitive domains, with the rate of decline dependent upon type of admission. The clinical impact of this accelerated decline will depend on the individual’s baseline cognitive reserve and expected longevity.