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The Prevalence and Incidence of Dementia Due to Alzheimer’s Disease: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2016

Kirsten M. Fiest
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Jodie I. Roberts
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Colleen J. Maxwell
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Schools of Pharmacy and Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
David B. Hogan
Affiliation:
Brenda Strafford Chair in Geriatric Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Eric E. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Alexandra Frolkis
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Adrienne Cohen
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Andrew Kirk
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Dawn Pearson
Affiliation:
Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Tamara Pringsheim
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Nathalie Jetté*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
*
Correspondence to: Nathalie Jetté, Foothills Medical Center, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, 1403-29th Street NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada. Email: Nathalie.jette@albertahealthservices.ca.
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Abstract

Background

Updated information on the epidemiology of dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is needed to ensure that adequate resources are available to meet current and future healthcare needs. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the incidence and prevalence of AD.

Methods

The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched from 1985 to 2012, as well as the reference lists of selected articles. Included articles had to provide an original population-based estimate for the incidence and/or prevalence of AD. Two individuals independently performed abstract and full-text reviews, data extraction and quality assessments. Random-effects models were employed to generate pooled estimates stratified by age, sex, diagnostic criteria, location (i.e., continent) and time (i.e., when the study was done).

Results

Of 16,066 abstracts screened, 707 articles were selected for full-text review. A total of 119 studies met the inclusion criteria. In community settings, the overall point prevalence of dementia due to AD among individuals 60+ was 40.2 per 1000 persons (CI95%: 29.1-55.6), and pooled annual period prevalence was 30.4 per 1000 persons (CI95%: 15.6-59.1). In community settings, the overall pooled annual incidence proportion of dementia due to AD among individuals 60+ was 34.1 per 1000 persons (CI95%: 16.4-70.9), and the incidence rate was 15.8 per 1000 person-years (CI95%: 12.9-19.4). Estimates varied significantly with age, diagnostic criteria used and location (i.e., continent).

Conclusions

The burden of AD dementia is substantial. Significant gaps in our understanding of its epidemiology were identified, even in a high-income country such as Canada. Future studies should assess the impact of using such newer clinical diagnostic criteria for AD dementia such as those of the National Institute on Aging–Alzheimer’s Association and/or incorporate validated biomarkers to confirm the presence of Alzheimer pathology to produce more precise estimates of the global burden of AD.

Résumé

Prévalence et incidence de la démence due à la maladie d’Alzheimer : revue systématique et méta-analyse. Contexte: Nous avons besoin d’informations sur l’épidémiologie de la démence due à la maladie d’Alzheimer (MA) afin de nous assurer que des ressources adéquates sont disponibles pour satisfaire les besoins actuels et futurs de la population en soins de santé. Nous avons effectué une revue systématique et une méta-analyse de l’incidence et de la prévalence de la MA. Méthodologie: Nous avons effectué une recherche dans les bases de données MEDLINE et EMBASE de 1985 à 2012 ainsi que dans la liste de références d’articles retenus. Les articles retenus devaient fournir des estimations de l’incidence et/ou de la prévalence populationnelle de la MA. Deux évaluateurs ont revu indépendamment les résumés et le texte intégral ainsi que l’extraction des données des publications et en ont évalué la qualité. Nous avons utilisé des modèles à effets aléatoires pour générer des estimations regroupées stratifiées par âge, sexe, critères diagnostiques, lieu (continent) et temps (moment où l’étude a été réalisée). Résultats: Parmi les 16 066 résumés examinés, 707 articles ont été retenus pour une revue du texte intégral. En tout, 119 études rencontraient les critères d’inclusion. Dans la communauté, la prévalence ponctuelle globale de la démence due à la MA chez les individus de 60 ans et plus était de 40,2 par 1 000 (IC à 95%: 29,1 à 55,6) et la prévalence annuelle pour les données regroupées était de 30,4 par 1 000 (IC à 95%: 15,6 à 59,1). Dans la communauté, la proportion d’incidence annuelle globale regroupée de la démence due à la MA chez les individus de 60 ans et plus était de 34,1 par 1 000 (IC à 95%: 16,4 à 70,9) et le taux d’incidence était de 15,8 par 1 000 personnes-années (IC à 95%: 12,9 à 19,4). Les estimations variaient significativement selon l’âge, les critères diagnostiques utilisés et le lieu (continent). Conclusions: Le fardeau de la démence dû à la MA est considérable. Nous avons identifié des lacunes importantes dans notre compréhension de son épidémiologie, même dans un pays à revenu élevé comme le Canada. Des études ultérieures devraient évaluer l’impact de l’utilisation de critères diagnostiques plus récents pour identifier la démence due à la MA tels ceux du National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association et/ou incorporer des biomarqueurs validés pour confirmer la présence de la pathologie de la MA et fournir des estimations plus précises de son fardeau global.

Information

Type
Original Articles
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an open access article, distributed under the terms of the creative commons attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences Inc. 2016
Figure 0

Figure 1 Study flow diagram.

Figure 1

Table 1 Studies Reporting on the Prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease

Figure 2

Table 2 Studies Reporting on the Incidence Rate of Alzheimer’s Disease

Figure 3

Table 3 Studies Reporting on the Incidence Proportion of Alzheimer’s Disease

Figure 4

Figure 2 Pooled point prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Figure 5

Figure 3 Pooled period prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease.

Figure 6

Figure 4 Pooled incidence proportion of Alzheimer’s disease.

Figure 7

Figure 5 Pooled incidence rate of Alzheimer’s disease.

Figure 8

Table 4 Quality assessment scores of Alzheimer’s Disease incidence and prevalence studies

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Supplementary material: File

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