Clinical Characteristics and Follow‐up Assessment in Patients Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Dementia Through Regional Dementia Centers and Conventional Hospital System

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe rapidly increasing socioeconomic burden due to dementia is a significant global public health issue. To address this issue in Korea, regional dementia centers (RDCs) have been established nationwide. This study investigated the clinical features and courses in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia(AD) through RDCs or conventional hospital system in the community.MethodThis retrospective cohort study was performed in a single general hospital and included patients newly diagnosed with AD from January 2019 to March 2022. Analysis was conducted to compare two groups of patients: the hospital group, who came directly to the hospital, and the RDC group, who were referred to the hospital from the RDCs in Pohang city. Their clinical courses were followed for a year after AD diagnosis.ResultA total of 1209 study participants were assigned to the hospital (n = 579) or RDC group (n = 630). The RDC group was 80.1 ± 6.6 years old, significantly older than the hospital group (P <0.001). In the linear regression model, the RDC group independently associated the CDR‐SB increment (β = 19.007 and P <0.001). In the multivariable binary logistic regression model, the RDC group showed a significantly lower risk for hospitalization within one year after the diagnosis of AD (odds ratio, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.30–0.98; P = 0.014).ConclusionAD patients in the RDCs were older, diagnosed with more advanced conditions, and were rated as having more rapid cognitive decline than patients diagnosed in the conventional hospital system. RDCs may contribute to the initiation of treatment by discovering AD patients hidden in the community due to limited access to healthcare.