Investigating the Prevalence and Predictors of Apathy among the Canadian Long-Term Care Residents: A Secondary Data Analysis

In long-term care facilities (LTCF), apathy is a prevalent issue, leading to cognitive decline, functional impairment, and increased mortality risk. Despite its significance, apathy often remains underrecognized and undermanaged in these settings. Recognizing and addressing the predictors of apathy is critical for early intervention and improved care outcomes. This study aims to assess the prevalence of apathy and identify its associated risk factors among newly admitted residents in the Canadian LTCF, using the InterRAI Minimum Data Set (MDS 2.0). We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of MDS 2.0 admission assessment data between 2015 and 2019, covering 157,596 residents across six Canadian provinces and one territory. Apathy was measured using the Apathy Index of the MDS 2.0, with the biopsychosocial model guiding the analysis. The prevalence of apathy was 12.5% (19,758 individuals). The most significant predictors include cognitive impairments, specific age groups, hearing impairments, vision impairments, facility size and location. The findings of this study underscore the need for tailored strategies in LTCF to address apathy, considering individual, institutional, and regional variations. Emphasis on environmental and personal factors is crucial in the management and prevention of apathy in these settings.

Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

PMC11528870