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The estimated prevalence of no reported dementia-related diagnosis in older Americans living with possible dementia by healthcare utilization

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Abstract

Background

Screening for dementia in relevant healthcare settings may help in identifying low cognitive functioning for comprehensive cognitive assessments and subsequent dementia treatment after diagnosis.

Aims

This study sought to estimate the prevalence of no reported dementia-related diagnosis in a nationally-representative sample of older Americans with a cognitive impairment consistent with dementia (CICD) by healthcare utilization.

Methods

The unweighted analytical sample included 1514 Americans aged ≥ 65 years that were identified as having a CICD without history of stroke, cancers, neurological conditions, or brain damage who participated in at least one-wave of the 2010–2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. An adapted Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status assessed cognitive functioning. Those with scores ≤ 6 had a CICD. Dementia-related diagnosis was self-reported. Respondents indicated if they visited a physician, received home healthcare, or experienced an overnight nursing home stay in the previous two years.

Results

The prevalence of no reported dementia-related diagnosis in persons with a CICD who visited a physician was 89.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): 85.4%-93.1%). Likewise, the prevalence of no reported diagnosis in those with a CICD who received home healthcare was 84.3% (CI: 75.1–90.5%). For persons with a CICD that had an overnight nursing home stay, the prevalence of no reported dementia-related diagnosis was 83.0% (CI: 69.1–91.4%).

Discussion

Although the prevalence of no reported dementia-related diagnosis in individuals with a CICD differed across healthcare settings, the prevalence was generally high nonetheless.

Conclusions

We recommend increased awareness and efforts be given to dementia screenings in various clinical settings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, NDSU Dept 2620, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND, 58108, USA

    Kelly Parker, Bong-Jin Choi, Lukus Klawitter & Ryan McGrath

  2. Department of Statistics, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA

    Brenda Vincent & Bong-Jin Choi

  3. Department of Public Health, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA

    Bong-Jin Choi

  4. School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Sheria G. Robinson-Lane

  5. Department of Psychology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA

    Jeremy M. Hamm

  6. Department of Geriatrics, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA

    Donald A. Jurivich

  7. Fargo VA Healthcare System, Fargo, ND, USA

    Ryan McGrath

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  1. Kelly Parker
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Correspondence to Ryan McGrath.

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Written informed consent was provided by participants before entering the HRS.

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HRS protocols were approved by the University’s Behavioral Sciences Committee Institutional Review Board.

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Parker, K., Vincent, B., Rhee, Y. et al. The estimated prevalence of no reported dementia-related diagnosis in older Americans living with possible dementia by healthcare utilization. Aging Clin Exp Res 34, 359–365 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-021-01980-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-021-01980-2

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