Racial and ethnic differences in trends in dementia prevalence and risk factors in the United States - PubMed (original) (raw)

Cynthia Chen et al. Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2018.

Abstract

Introduction: Disparities in dementia prevalence across racial/ethnic groups in the United States may not be narrowing over time.

Methods: Data from Health and Retirement Study (2000 to 2012) were analyzed. Dementia was ascertained based on cognitive, functional measures. Logistic regression was used to quantify association between dementia and risk factors, including chronic conditions, use of drug treatment for them, separately for whites, blacks, and Hispanics.

Results: Disparities in dementia prevalence declined between blacks and whites and increased between Hispanics and whites. Adjusting for risk factors reduced but did not eliminate disparities. Compared to no hypertension, untreated hypertension was associated with increased risk of dementia for all racial/ethnic groups while treated hypertension was associated with reduced risk for whites. Diabetes treated with oral drugs was not associated with increased dementia risk.

Discussion: Racial disparities in dementia may be reduced by prevention and management of disease and promoting educational attainment among blacks and Hispanics.

Keywords: Dementia; Disparities; Epidemiology; Ethnicity; Race; Treatment.

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Figures

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

Trend in dementia prevalence at the age of 65 years or older by race/ethnicity, 2000–2012. Values are weighted using the HRS sampling weights to adjust for complex design of the HRS survey. Abbreviation: HRS, Health and Retirement Study.

Fig. 2

Fig. 2

(A) Absolute difference in prevalence of risk factors for dementia (2012 vs. 2000). (B) Absolute difference in prevalence of treatment among those with respective medical condition (2012 vs. 2000). *Absolute difference in prevalence of cholesterol treatment among those with heart disease in 2012 versus 2006.

Fig. 3

Fig. 3

Multivariable odds ratio for the presence of dementia in race/ethnic minorities compared to whites, 2000–2012.

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