Risk Factors Profile in Dementia Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Dementia is attributable to 12 known risk factors in 40% cases. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of defined risk factors among people living with dementia. 174 patients with dementia and caregivers were interviewed using semi-structured pro forma, risk factors provided by the Lancet Commission on Dementia (2020), and Dementia Severity Rating Scale (DSRS). The prevalence of 11 known risk factors and associations between the risk factors and dementia severity were assessed. The mean age of the participants was 73.9 years (SD = 8.34 years). The education below intermediate level was 83.3%, 17.8% had hearing loss, 37.9% had hypertension, 24.1% had diabetes, 25.9% and 55.2% had alcohol and nicotine harmful use respectively and 8% had a history of traumatic brain injury and obesity each. There is a substantial prevalence of risk factors among people living with dementia in Nepal but no associations between any of the risk factors and dementia severity.