Risk for COVID-19 Increased for Patients With Dementia

TUESDAY, Feb. 9, 2021 -- Patients with dementia have an increased risk for COVID-19, with the strongest effect seen for vascular dementia, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in Alzheimer's & Dementia.

QuanQiu Wang, from the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and colleagues conducted a retrospective case-control analysis of patient electronic health records for 61.9 million adult and senior patients in the United States to examine the risk, disparity, and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with dementia.

The researchers found that compared with those without dementia, patients with dementia were at increased risk for COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio, 2.00), with the strongest effect seen for vascular dementia, followed by presenile dementia, Alzheimer disease, senile dementia, and posttraumatic dementia (adjusted odds ratios, 3.17, 2.62, 1.86, 1.99, and 1.67, respectively). Compared with Whites, Blacks with dementia had an increased risk for COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio, 2.86). In patients with dementia and COVID-19, six-month mortality and hospitalization risks were 20.99 and 59.26 percent, respectively.

"This study highlights the need to protect patients with dementia, especially those who are Black, as part of the strategy to control the pandemic," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

Posted: February 2021