Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2025

Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
Published on: November 6, 2017
Dementia Attributable Healthcare Utilizations in the Caribbean versus United States
Jing Li1, Jordan Weiss2, Ashish Rajadhyaksha3
1The Comparative Health Outcomes, Policy and Economics (CHOICE) Institute, Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Background:
Despite the high burden of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias among the Hispanic population worldwide, little is known about how dementia affects healthcare utilizations among this population outside of the US, in particular among those in the Caribbean region.
Objective:
This study examines healthcare utilization associated with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias among older adults in the Caribbean as compared to the US.
Methods:
We conducted harmonized analyses of two population-based surveys, the 10/66 Dementia Group Research data collected in Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Puerto Rico, and the US-based Health and Retirement Study. We examined changes in hospital nights and physician visits in response to incident and ongoing dementias.
Results:
Incident dementia significantly increased the risk of hospitalization and number of hospital nights in both populations. Ongoing dementia increased the risk of hospitalization and hospital nights in the US, with imprecise estimates for the Caribbean. The number of physician visits was elevated in the US but not in the Caribbean.
Conclusions:
The concentration of increased healthcare utilization on hospital care and among patients with incident dementia suggests an opportunity for improved outpatient management of new and existing dementia patients in the Caribbean.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Secondary Healthcare System
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...
Healthcare Agencies II
Parish nursing is a growing specialty nursing profession that focuses on holistic healthcare, health promotion, and illness prevention. It blends professional nursing practice with a health ministry, focusing on health and healing within the context of a Christian community. Parish nurses serve as health educators, referral sources,...
Tertiary Healthcare System

