Sex disparities in dementia mortality across the American continent: temporal trends.

Dementia has emerged as a growing global health concern, particularly in aging populations across the Americas. Despite increasing recognition of its burden, substantial gaps remain in understanding its mortality patterns, especially regarding sex differences and regional disparities.

Objective: To evaluate the temporal trends of sex disparities in dementia mortality across the American Continent.

Methods: This ecological study used Pan American Health Organization mortality data (2000-2019) validated against national and World Health Organization sources. Age-adjusted dementia mortality rates by sex and country were analyzed using joinpoint regression to estimate trends and detect significant temporal changes. Results were interpreted using annual percentage changes and their confidence intervals to classify trends as increasing, decreasing, or stationary.

Results: Across the Americas, dementia mortality trends were highly variable by country and sex. Some nations saw parallel trends between men and women, while others exhibited sex-based divergence in direction or intensity. Despite this variability, rising mortality was a common pattern in many locations, especially in North America and parts of South America.

Conclusion: Dementia mortality trends across the Americas reveal marked sex differences and regional heterogeneity, reflecting a complex interaction of demographic, social, and health system factors. These findings emphasize the need for gender-sensitive public health strategies, improved surveillance, and cross-national research to inform equitable and effective dementia care policies.