Survival and life-expectancy in a young-onset dementia cohort with six years of follow-up: the NeedYD-study

Adrie A. J. Gerritsen*, Christian Bakker, Frans Rj Verhey, Yolande A. L. Pijnenburg, Joany K. Millenaar, Marjolein E. de Vugt, Raymond T. C. M. Koopmans

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate survival time and life-expectancy in people with young-onset dementia (YOD) and to examine the relationship with age, sex, dementia subtype and comorbidity. Design, Setting and Participants: Survival was examined in 198 participants in the Needs in Young-onset Dementia study, including participants with Alzheimer's dementia (AD), vascular dementia (VaD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Measures: The primary outcomes were survival time after symptom onset and after date of diagnosis. Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore the relationship between survival and age, sex, dementia subtype and comorbidity. Additionally, the impact on remaining life expectancy was explored. Results: During the six-year follow-up, 77 of the participants died (38.9%), 78 participants survived (39.4%) and 43 were lost to follow-up (21.7%). The mean survival time after symptom onset and diagnosis was 209 months (95% CI 185-233) and 120 months (95% CI 110-130) respectively. Participants with AD had a statistically significant shorter survival compared with VaD participants, both regarding survival after symptom onset (p = 0.047) as well as regarding survival after diagnosis (p = 0.049). Younger age at symptom onset or at diagnosis was associated with longer survival times. The remaining life expectancy, after diagnosis, was reduced with 51% for males and 59% for females compared to the life expectancy of the general population in the same age groups.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1781-1789
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Psychogeriatrics
Volume31
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2019

Keywords

  • Young Onset Dementia
  • Dementia
  • Long-Term Care
  • ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE
  • VASCULAR DEMENTIA
  • COGNITIVE DECLINE
  • MORTALITY RISK
  • DIAGNOSIS
  • DEATH
  • FASTER
  • PROGRESSION
  • PEOPLE
  • HEALTH

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