ABSTRACT
Aim: This study was designed to investigate if high climate temperature have a worsening effect on Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia [BPSD] in demented patients and interact with the efficacy of a therapeutical program
Methods: During a week in July 2007 in Eastern region of Saudi Arabia, when atmospheric temperature was unusually high, five out of six demented patients discharged from King Fahd Hospital in Hofuf, for Dementia reported an increase of behavioral disturbance severity
Results: the three groups did not differ with respect to sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutical characteristics. On admission,frequency and severity of BPSD were similar among groups; whereas on discharge the case-group had an increase in NPI-scores [NPI during the first week [median]: 13 in the case-group vs 21 in the I control-group vs 20.5 in the II one; during last week: 24.5 vs 9.5 vs 15 respectively]
Conclusion: It could be concluded that high climate temperature may have a negative impact on behavior in demented patients