What prognostic tools are helpful for assessing patients with late-stage Alzheimer's disease for hospice care?

Abstract

What prognostic tools are helpful for assessing patients with late-stage Alzheimer's disease for hospice care? Evidence-Based Answer: A Mini-Suffering State Examination (MSSE) score of greater-than or equal to 4 is useful for predicting 6-month mortality in patients with advanced dementia. An Advanced Dementia Prognostic Tool (ADEPT) score of greater-than or equal to 11 is more sensitive (but less specific) than the Medicare hospice eligibility guidelines for predicting 6 month mortality in late stage dementia (SOR: B, cohort studies).