Dean Sherzai, Ayesha Sherzai, Medina Sahak and Chizobam Ani
Objective: To explore ethnoracial and gender specific mortality associated with dementia hospitalizations from 1997 to 2008, using a nationally representative database.
Design: Cross-sectional.
Participants: 354,949,163 from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database using appropriate ICD-9 and procedure codes.
Measurements: Descriptive, univariate and multivariable analysis (Linear, Cox) adjusting for comorbidity, hospital factors and socio-demographics were used.
Results: Mortality was higher for dementia hospitalizations for all age groups (35-64 years and ≥ 65 years) vs. non-dementia hospitalizations (2.7% vs. 1.5% and 5.5% vs. 4.5%). For individuals aged 35-64 years, dementia hospitalizations were more common among males vs. females (53.8% vs. 46.2%). Crude in-hospital mortality was higher among Whites and males for all age groups and overall mortality declined from 1999 to 2008. Adjusted relative risk of mortality was higher among men as compared to women of all age groups (RR 2.87, 95% CI 2.82-2.92) and also higher among Hispanics and African Americans as compared to Whites (African Americans: RR 2.35, 95% CI 2.21-2.51; Hispanics: RR 2.15, 95% CI 2.06-2.23).
Conclusion: African Americans, Hispanics and men bear a disproportionate burden from dementia in the hospital setting. Interventions to improve care outcomes in these populations are important.