Does pneumonia increase the risk of dementia and cognitive decline? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Objective The link between pneumonia and elevated risk of dementia and cognitive decline is still unclear. This study aims to evaluate the link between pneumonia and the subsequent risk of developing dementia.Methods MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE (Excerpta Medica Database), Cochrane Central Register...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Annals of Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2517376 |
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| author | Zhen Yan Min Zhang Lifang Yu Fulian Zhang |
| author_facet | Zhen Yan Min Zhang Lifang Yu Fulian Zhang |
| author_sort | Zhen Yan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective The link between pneumonia and elevated risk of dementia and cognitive decline is still unclear. This study aims to evaluate the link between pneumonia and the subsequent risk of developing dementia.Methods MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE (Excerpta Medica Database), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP) databases were searched for studies, published up to 29 February 2024. Eligible studies provided data on adult patients diagnosed with pneumonia and reported outcomes related to dementia or cognitive decline. Quality of observational studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effects models. Subgroup analyses were done based on age, geography, study design and pneumonia type.Results Ten studies were included, encompassing a diverse population sample. Pooled analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between pneumonia and increased risk of dementia (HR = 1.738; 95% CI: 1.358 to 2.225), with substantial heterogeneity across the studies (I2 = 97.1%). Subgroup analysis indicated that the association was more pronounced in older adults and varied slightly by region and study design. The risk did not significantly differ between bacterial and non-specific pneumonia types.Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that pneumonia is associated with a significantly higher risk of developing dementia. These findings underscore the need for diligent monitoring and preventive strategies for patients recovering from pneumonia, particularly among the elderly, to mitigate potential cognitive decline.PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024520631. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b2e0da19c9064a93a3384ebcae2e107d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0785-3890 1365-2060 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-b2e0da19c9064a93a3384ebcae2e107d2025-08-20T03:16:12ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAnnals of Medicine0785-38901365-20602025-12-0157110.1080/07853890.2025.2517376Does pneumonia increase the risk of dementia and cognitive decline? A systematic review and meta-analysisZhen Yan0Min Zhang1Lifang Yu2Fulian Zhang3Department of Critical Care Support Ward, Hangzhou Geriatric Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Support Ward, Hangzhou Geriatric Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Support Ward, Hangzhou Geriatric Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Support Ward, Hangzhou Geriatric Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaObjective The link between pneumonia and elevated risk of dementia and cognitive decline is still unclear. This study aims to evaluate the link between pneumonia and the subsequent risk of developing dementia.Methods MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE (Excerpta Medica Database), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP) databases were searched for studies, published up to 29 February 2024. Eligible studies provided data on adult patients diagnosed with pneumonia and reported outcomes related to dementia or cognitive decline. Quality of observational studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effects models. Subgroup analyses were done based on age, geography, study design and pneumonia type.Results Ten studies were included, encompassing a diverse population sample. Pooled analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between pneumonia and increased risk of dementia (HR = 1.738; 95% CI: 1.358 to 2.225), with substantial heterogeneity across the studies (I2 = 97.1%). Subgroup analysis indicated that the association was more pronounced in older adults and varied slightly by region and study design. The risk did not significantly differ between bacterial and non-specific pneumonia types.Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that pneumonia is associated with a significantly higher risk of developing dementia. These findings underscore the need for diligent monitoring and preventive strategies for patients recovering from pneumonia, particularly among the elderly, to mitigate potential cognitive decline.PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024520631.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2517376Dementiameta-analysisolder adultspneumonia |
| spellingShingle | Zhen Yan Min Zhang Lifang Yu Fulian Zhang Does pneumonia increase the risk of dementia and cognitive decline? A systematic review and meta-analysis Annals of Medicine Dementia meta-analysis older adults pneumonia |
| title | Does pneumonia increase the risk of dementia and cognitive decline? A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Does pneumonia increase the risk of dementia and cognitive decline? A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Does pneumonia increase the risk of dementia and cognitive decline? A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does pneumonia increase the risk of dementia and cognitive decline? A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Does pneumonia increase the risk of dementia and cognitive decline? A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | does pneumonia increase the risk of dementia and cognitive decline a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Dementia meta-analysis older adults pneumonia |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2517376 |
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