Prevalence of Dementia among Patients Hospitalized with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Spain, 2011–2020: Sex-Related Disparities and Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

(1) Background: To assess changes in the prevalence of dementia among patients hospitalized with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), to analyze the effects of dementia on in-hospital mortality (IHM) in this population, to evaluate sex differences, and to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these parameters. (2) Methods: We used a nationwide discharge database to select all patients with T2DM aged 60 years or over admitted to Spanish hospitals from 2011 to 2020. We identified those with all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD). The effect of sex, age, comorbidity, and COVID-19 on the prevalence of dementia subtypes and on IHM was assessed using multivariable logistic regression. (3) Results: We identified 5,250,810 hospitalizations with T2DM. All-cause dementia was detected in 8.31%, AD in 3.00%, and VaD in 1.55%. The prevalence of all subtypes of dementia increased significantly over time. After multivariable adjustment, higher values were observed in women for all-cause dementia (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.33–1.35), AD (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.58–1.62), and VaD (OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.11–1.14). However, female sex was a protective factor for IHM in patients with all-cause dementia (OR 0.90; 95% CI 0.89–0.91), AD (OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.86–0.91), and VaD (OR 0.95; 95% CI 0.91–0.99). IHM among patients with dementia remained stable over time, until 2020, when it increased significantly. Higher age, greater comorbidity, and COVID-19 were associated with IHM in all dementia subtypes. (4) Conclusions: The prevalence of dementia (all-cause, AD, and VaD) in men and women with T2DM increased over time; however, the IHM remained stable until 2020, when it increased significantly, probably because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of dementia is higher in women than in men, although female sex is a protective factor for IHM.

Insulin resistance as the molecular link between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease

“…Simultaneously, the global diabetic population, driven by factors such as obesity, reached approximately 529 million in 2021, with projections indicating a rise to over 1.31 billion by 2050[ 10 ]. Importantly, the prevalence of dementia, including AD, among individuals with T2DM in Spain increased significantly over a decade, highlighting a notable intersection between these diseases[ 11 ]. This convergence accentuates the imperative for early detection and management of IR to possibly attenuate AD progression and highlights the necessity for multidisciplinary research aimed at unveiling novel therapeutic strategies and deciphering the intricate metabolic-neurodegenerative interplay.…”