Partner Bereavement and Detection of Dementia: A UK-Based Cohort Study Using Routine Health Data.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the UK, an estimated one third of people with dementia have not received a diagnosis. Good evidence suggests that dementia risk is increased among widowed individuals; however, it is not clear if they are being diagnosed in routine primary care.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate if bereavement influenced the probability of having received a dementia diagnosis.

Methods

A population-based cohort study using UK electronic health records, between 1997 and 2017, among 247,586 opposite-sex partners. Those experiencing partner bereavement were matched (age, sex, and date of bereavement) to a non-bereaved person living in a partnership. Multivariate cox regression was performed.

Results

Partner bereavement was associated with an increased risk of

SUBMITTER: Forbes HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6918907 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature