Mortality patterns in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and late-onset Alzheimer's disease in the United States: a retrospective analysis from 1999 to 2020.

Abstract

Background: Late-onset AD refers to the occurrence of AD after the age of 65. It is the primary cause of late-onset dementia. Studies indicate that persons diagnosed with diabetes are more susceptible to late-onset AD. Diabetes manifests as insulin resistance, which can have significant effects on cognitive function and contribute to the development of AD.

Methods: The CDC WONDER database was used to determine the crude death rates (CR) and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 individuals, 65 years and above. Joinpoint Regression Program was used to examine the changes in AAMR in the form of annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC).

Results: From 1999 to 2020, late-onset AD and diabetes were associated with 185,059 deaths in the older US population, demonstrating an increasing trend (AAPC = 2.87). Females (20.38) had higher AAMR than males (19.62). Non-Hispanic (NH) African Americans experienced the highest AAMR (28.01), while non-Hispanic Asians experienced the lowest (16.09). AAMRs varied by region (West: 23.53, Midwest: 21.51, South: 21.0, Northeast: 13.50). States with the highest AAMR percent change were Nebraska and Louisiana; those with the lowest were Montana and New Hampshire. Most deaths occurred at hospice/nursing facilities (57.96%). Non-metropolitan areas showed a higher mortality burden (25.05) than metropolitan areas (19.02).

Conclusions: There was an increasing mortality trend for late-onset AD among the population with diabetes in the US, with high mortality in females, NH African Americans, and the Western region.