A systematic review and meta-analysis of dementia prevalence in seven developing countries: A STRiDE project

• Published in: Global public health Vol. 15; no. 12; pp. 1878 - 1893
• Main Authors: Farina, N., Ibnidris, A., Alladi, S., Comas-Herrera, A., Albanese, E., Docrat, S., Ferri, C. P., Freeman, E., Govia, I., Jacobs, R., Astudillo-Garcia, C.I., Musyimi, C., Sani, T.P., Schneider, M., Theresia, I., Turana, Y., Knapp, M., Banerjee, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01-12-2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Algorithms; Bias; Criteria; Data; Dementia; Developing countries; Development policy; diagnostic criteria; Diagnostic systems; LDCs; Literature reviews; Meta-analysis; Middle-income; older adults; Prevalence; Representativeness; Response bias; Systematic review; Brazil; Mexico; India; older adults; Middle-income; diagnostic criteria
• ISSN: 1744-1692; 1744-1706
• DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2020.1792527

The STRiDE project sets out to support the development of effective dementia policy in middle-income countries (Brazil, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, and South Africa). As part of this it will generate new data about the prevalence of dementia for a subset of these countries. This study aims to identify the current estimates of dementia prevalence in these countries and where the gaps lie in the current literature. A systematic review was completed on 30th April 2019 across electronic databases, identifying dementia prevalence literature originating from any of the seven countries. Four hundred and twenty-nine records were identified following de-duplication; 28 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. Pooled estimates of dementia prevalence ranged from 2% to 9% based on DSM-IV criteria; these figures were generally higher in studies using other diagnostic criteria (e.g. the 10/66 algorithm). Available prevalence data varied between countries. Only Brazil, Mexico and India had data derived from studies judged as having a low risk of bias. Irrespective of country, studies often were not explicit in detailing the representativeness of their sample, or whether there was non-response bias. Further transparent and externally valid dementia prevalence research is needed across the STRiDE countries.