Documentation sheet
Definition of indicator
Calculation (numerator, denominator)
Additional underlying concepts
Relevant dimensions (subgroups)
Preferred data sources
Rationale
Data availability, quality and periodicity
References
Work to do
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Dementia Proportion of persons with clinically diagnosed dementia. The term “dementia” refers to the progressive decline in cognitive and intellectual functions (such as thinking, concentrating, remembering and reasoning) of such severity that they affect person’s daily activities, due to brain diseases which result in the damage and loss of brain cells. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. |
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Calculation (numerator, denominator) (1) The European Community Concerted Action on the Epidemiology and Prevention of Dementia -group (EURODEM): Prevalence rate of diagnosed cases of dementia (DSM-III or equivalent) or Alzheimer, (2) Prevalence rate of diagnosed cases of dementia or Alzheimer, deriver from ad hoc epidemiological surveys, where the sample is representative of the general national population. (3) Number of diagnosed dementia/Alzheimer cases done into a clinical environment (hospitals or other bodies devoted to diagnosis, care and prevention), expressed as hospital discharge standardised rate per 100.000 inhabitants. |
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Additional underlying concepts EURODEM: Only population-based studies in which dementia was defined by DSM-III or equivalent criteria and in which all subjects were examined personally were included. Studies in which institutionalized subjects were not investigated were excluded. Studies should include people with dementia who were living at home as well as those in institutions, nursing homes and residential care. European Collaboration on Dementia (EuroCoDe) project: Focus on different types/ stages of dementia. But keeping in mind the need to focus mainly on standardized terminology and definition to be used on the preclinical phase. |
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Relevant dimensions (subgroups) Country (also region), calendar year, gender, age group, Alzheimer. Recommended age groups: EURODEM age groups: 30-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94 and 95-99 |
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(1) Alzheimer Europe/EURODEM database, but it is not regularly updated database. Ad hoc (epidemiological) surveys (2) ? (3) Hospital discharge registers |
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An increasingly important public health issue as the European populations are aging rapidly. Mental Health is one of the most concerning issue worldwide and particularly in Europe. The burden of cognitive impairment, dementias and Alzheimer disease represents one of the most important epidemiological issue that urged MS to deal with the need to early identify the preclinical phase to tackle the progression to the latest stages of the specific disease particularly in view of the absence of effective treatment to prevent them. |
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Data availability, quality and periodicity - Prevalence in the EU-MS can only be estimated, a register does not exist and due to methodological reasons population based surveys usually are not feasible. - EURODEM study (dementia): Data from DE, ES, FI, FR, IT, NL, NO, PT, SE, UK; - Alzheimer Europe has estimated prevalence estimates for the rest of EU and EFTA. Alzheimer Europe estimates are calculated using population statistics, and the EURODEM and Ferri et al prevalence estimates. Ferri et al developed prevalence rates through a DELPHI approach. - Dementia in Europe note: The EURODEM study was based solely on diagnosed cases. This might pose a problem in accurately estimating the number of people with dementia, as many people with dementia never receive a diagnosis and it excludes those in the early stages of dementia who have not yet been diagnosed. - Eurostat has hospital discharge data. But this should be supplemented by data on social sector institutes, like nursing homes. - There is no comparable European wide data derived from (regularly conducted) ad hoc epidemiological surveys, in the age group 65-84. |
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EURODEM dementia data and EURODEM dementia data - national reports and charts - Ferri et al (2005): Global prevalence of dementia: a Delphi consensus study. Lancet 2005 Dec 17;366(9503):2112-7. |
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Data Presentations
More indicator information will follow in due time. |
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What the indicator is meant to measure. If not unambiguous, all acceptable alternatives are to be listed in numbered preference order. The final decision on preference order/numbering is to be made by ECHIM coregroup.
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How to calculate the indicator (method, numerator, denominator, etc), in the same preference order as above if more than one alternative.
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Why the indicator is measured the chosen way (prevalence, incidence, mortality, absolute numbers etc.)? Also reasons for the preferred definition and calculation details can be included here.
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Should the indicator be stratified by e.g. age, gender, socio-economic status and area
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The type of data source; in the same preference order as above (typically either register data or HIS/HES).
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Why is this indicator important, from the public health point of view. (For example: size or dynamics of the problem/issue, evidence of the relevance of the issue in public health terms (for determinants) or evidence of intervention effectiveness (for prevention or care issues)).
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The recommended data source (e.g. Eurostat, OECD, WHO, national registers or HIS/HES, project databases etc.), in the same preference order as above; some notes on the quality and availability of the data for the indicator. Eventually, also information on the availability in coutries, as derived from the ECHIM survey.
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References to original publications, websites, EHIS-question/naire, PHP projects, etc.
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What should be done to improve and complete this sheet. Eventually, this cell should be blank.
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