The prevalence of dementia in the People's Republic of China: a systematic analysis of 1980–2004 studies

Abstract

Background dementia has been a major public health problem. However, there has not yet been a nationwide investigation or systematic analysis of the prevalence of dementia in China from 1980 to 2004. Objectives the aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence of dementia and its major subtypes [Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VD)] among the population aged 60 years and older in China from 1980 to 2004. Methods epidemiological investigations on dementia in China published in journals and covering the period from 1980 to 2004 were identified manually and on-line by using CBMDISK, Chongqing VIP database and CNKI database. Those reported in English journals were identified using MEDLINE. Selected studies had to describe an original study defined by strict screening and diagnostic criteria. The fixed effects model or random effects model was employed according to statistical test for homogeneity. Results twenty-five studies were selected, the statistical information of which was collected for systematic analysis. Our results showed that AD and VD were the two major subtypes of dementia in China, and the pooled prevalence of AD and VD for the population aged 60 years and older was 1.6 and 0.8%, respectively. There was a higher prevalence of AD in the illiterate elderly population (3.2%) than in those who received years of education. The chronological prevalence of AD increased significantly from 1980 to 2004. In southern and northern China, the prevalence of AD was 2.0 and 1.2%, respectively, while VD was 0.6 and 1.1%, respectively. Conclusions in the last 24 years, AD and VD were the two major subtypes of dementia in China. The prevalence of AD may be affected by sex, education, occupation or age. The prevalence of VD, which was higher in northern than in southern China, seems not to be affected by age, sex or education.

Nursing Students' Intentions to Work in Dementia Care: Influence of Age, Ageism, and Perceived Barriers

“…There was previously just one prevalence study available from Latin America (13). The evidence base from China was considerably extended by a recent systematic review that included data from publications previously available only in Chinese journals (35). The previous estimates for South Asia were perhaps disproportionately influenced by one large study, from rural Ballabgarh in northern India, which recorded an unusually low prevalence (18).…”

O4–04–02: Prevalence studies of dementia in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…4 Cities Study reported some variations between different cities and 4 Provinces Study found significantly higher risk of dementia in rural than in urban areas. A preliminary result of a recent study in mainland China also reported higher prevalence in rural areas.…”

“…In the immediate and mid term future, investigating the nationwide prevalence of dementia and the distributions in different areas are both important in providing information for appropriate policy and care plans. Some large scale exercises which synthesise Chinese data on dementia do exist but none of them consider the influence of methodological factors on the results [2][3][4][5]. An international Lancet report (Delphi study) seven years ago concluded the consensus prevalence of dementia in China and the developing western Pacific as 4.0% in those aged over 60 years [3].…”

“…However, heterogeneity between individual prevalence studies is substantial. Dong et al (2007) reviewed 25 studies in mainland China from 1980 to 2004 and reported the pooled prevalence as 2.8% (95% CI: 2.5-3.1) in the population aged 60 and older ranging from 0.8% to 6.1% [4]. In Taiwan, the range of prevalence in the previous 8 studies since 1980 was from 2.7% to 4.4% [6].…”

Prevalence of Dementia and Its Associated Factors in Cotonou Teaching Hospital, Benin

“…Likewise, Rusanen et al [29] inand amplifies the cholinergic metabolism by dysfunctioning brain nicotine receptacles. A Chinese research [30] proved that second-hand smoking constitutes a risk factor which could increase by 29% the occurrence of severe dementia.…”