Temporal trends in sex differences in dementia care—results from the Swedish registry for cognitive/dementia disorders, SveDem

Abstract The Swedish Registry for Cognitive/Dementia Disorders (SveDem) follows the quality and equity of dementia care across Sweden. In this study, we investigated temporal trends in sex-based differences in the provision of dementia care. Outcomes were diagnostic work-up, assessments performed by...

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Main Authors: Tamar Abzhandadze, Minh Tuan Hoang, Pauline Raaschou, Jakob Norgren, Minjia Mo, Christian Molnar, Hong Xu, Laura Kananen, Madeleine Åkerman, Dorota Religa, Maria Eriksdotter, Sara Garcia-Ptacek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03055-y
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Summary:Abstract The Swedish Registry for Cognitive/Dementia Disorders (SveDem) follows the quality and equity of dementia care across Sweden. In this study, we investigated temporal trends in sex-based differences in the provision of dementia care. Outcomes were diagnostic work-up, assessments performed by health care professionals, medication use, and social support (defined as initiating contact with a social worker and/or support to relatives). Revisions in dementia diagnosis between baseline and follow-up were evaluated as a marker of diagnostic stability. We included 100,534 individuals diagnosed with dementia between 2008 and 2021 (median age 80 years, 58% women). Dementia registrations rose from 2008 to 2014, then declined after 2015. Alzheimer’s dementia was more frequent in women than men (35% versus 17%), while vascular dementia was less frequent (17% versus 21%). Small differences were observed in dementia care outcomes between sexes. Where differences reached statistical significance, effect sizes were minimal. Dementia diagnosis was revised in 5% of men and 4% of women over a median period of 11 months between baseline and first follow-up. Our results revealed negligible temporal trends in sex-based differences in dementia care among individuals included in the SveDem. However, as SveDem covers only about one third of Sweden’s dementia population, findings may not fully represent national trends.
ISSN:2045-2322