Prevalence of Suspected Dementia in a Sample of Adults Living in Kinshasa‐Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe improved life expectancy in Sub‐Saharan Africa are leading to increased burden of dementia. This study investigates the prevalence and risk factors for suspected dementia in elderly adults in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).MethodParticipants included 356 individuals over 65 years old (mean = 73.6 years; SD = 6.7 years; range = 65‐98 years) recruited in Kinshasa. The sample was 51% male with an average 7.3 (SD = 4.7 years; range 0‐20 years) years of education. Participants were screened using Community Screening Instrument for Dementia, Alzheimer’s Questionnaire, Geriatric Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Individual Fragility Questionnaire followed by clinical interview and neurological screening. Suspected dementia diagnoses were made based on DSM‐5 criteria including significant cognitive and functional impairments. Prevalence and odd ratios with 95% confidence interval were calculated using logistic regression.ResultThe crude prevalence was 6.2% in Kinshasa. The prevalence of suspected dementia was 9.0% in women and 3.8% in men. Female sex was a significant predictor of suspected dementia [OR = 2.81, 95% CI (1.08‐7.41), p = 0.03]. The prevalence of dementia increased with age (14.0% after 75 years and 23.1% after 85 years), with age being a significant risk factor [OR = 5.42, 95% CI (2.86‐10.28), p <.0001. Greater education was associated with lower prevalence of suspected dementia [OR = 0.36, 95% CI (0.14‐0.94), p = 0.04, comparing those with ≥7.3 to <7.3 years of education]. Widow and being semi‐retired or retired were significant risk factors. Anxiety [OR = 2.56, 95% CI (1.05‐6.13), p = 0.04] and death of a spouse or a relative after age 65 [OR = 0.73, 95% CI (0.58‐0.92), p = 0.01] were significant risk factors for suspected dementia while depression [OR = 1.92, 95% CI (0.81‐4.57)], hypertension [OR = 1.16, 95% CI (0.79‐1.71)], BMI [OR = 1.06, 95% CI (0.40‐2.79)], and alcohol consumption [OR = 0.83, 95% CI (0.19‐3.58)] were not significant predictors of suspected dementia.ConclusionThis study found a prevalence of suspected dementia in Kinshasa/DRC similar to other developing countries and Central African countries. Being elderly, female, less educated, widow, retired, having anxiety and experiencing death after age 65 were significant risk factors for suspected dementia.