Dementia subtypes in China: prevalence in Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, and Chengdu

Prevalences of Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) in China reportedly differ from those in Western countries.

To estimate prevalence of AD and VaD in 4 regions of China.

Cross-sectional, population-based prevalence survey with a stratified, multistage cluster sampling design.

Rural (n = 99) and urbanized (n = 71) communities of Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, and Chengdu.

A sample of 34 807 community residents (94% of those eligible) 55 years or older.

Participants were screened with the Chinese Mini-Mental State Examination. Those who screened positive (n = 3950) underwent a standardized diagnostic workup. Screening sensitivity was assessed in a 3.3% random sample (n = 1008 of the 30 857 who passed the screening). Diagnoses of AD and VaD were made according to National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases and Stroke-Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders Association and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement en Neurosciences criteria, respectively. Final diagnoses were made after a 6-month confirmation interval.

We identified 732 AD cases and 295 VaD cases. Prevalence in persons 65 years or older was 3.5% (95% confidence interval, 3.0%-3.9%) for AD and 1.1% (95% confidence interval, 0.9%-1.1%) for VaD. After post hoc correction for negative screening errors, prevalence increased to 4.8% for AD and remained at 1.1% for VaD.

Prevalence of dementia subtypes in China is comparable with that in Western countries.