Temporal trends in sex differences in dementia care: results from the Swedish registry for cognitive/dementia disorders, SveDem

Abstract

The Swedish Registry for Cognitive/Dementia Disorders (SveDem) follows the quality and equity of dementia care across Sweden. In this study, we investigated temporal trends in sex-based differences in the provision of dementia care. Outcomes were diagnostic work-up, assessments performed by health care professionals, medication use, and social support (defined as initiating contact with a social worker and/or support to relatives). Revisions in dementia diagnosis between baseline and follow-up were evaluated as a marker of diagnostic stability. We included 100,534 individuals diagnosed with dementia between 2008 and 2021 (median age 80 years, 58% women). Dementia registrations rose from 2008 to 2014, then declined after 2015. Alzheimer’s dementia was more frequent in women than men (35% versus 17%), while vascular dementia was less frequent (17% versus 21%). Small differences were observed in dementia care outcomes between sexes. Where differences reached statistical significance, effect sizes were minimal. Dementia diagnosis was revised in 5% of men and 4% of women over a median period of 11 months between baseline and first follow-up. Our results revealed negligible temporal trends in sex-based differences in dementia care among individuals included in the SveDem. However, as SveDem covers only about one third of Sweden’s dementia population, findings may not fully represent national trends.