title: Short-term trends in dementia prevalence in Germany between the years 2007 and 2009.
abstract: Recent studies have been cautiously optimistic about declining trends in dementia prevalence and incidence. Newly available claims data from a German public health insurance company covering 30% of the total population permitted us to explore short-term trends based on millions of observations up to the highest ages. Diagnoses stemmed from the inpatient and outpatient services and covered both the community-dwelling population and those living in nursing homes. Data spanning more than 3 years were examined, and the examination revealed a significant yearly reduction between 1% and 2% in the prevalence of dementia among women aged 75 to 84 years. The extent of the reduction was comparable with reports from earlier studies. A similar tendency existed among men, however, statistically not significant. Trends in medical, lifestyle, and societal risk factors of dementia may have contributed to this decline.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sociology and Demography, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany; Department of Demographic Studies, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany; Rostock Center for the Study of Demographic Change, Rostock, Germany. Electronic address: doblhammer@rostockerzentrum.de.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doblhammer
authors.affiliation: Department of Demographic Studies, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany; Rostock Center for the Study of Demographic Change, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.affiliation: Rostock Center for the Study of Demographic Change, Rostock, Germany; Department of Demographic Studies, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fritze
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015995:Prevalence; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Dementia; Medical claims data; Prevalence; Time trends; Total population