Dementia diagnosis on the rise - for some

Researchers have discovered general hospitals are getting better at identifying dementia in some patients but are missing it in one third of patients, with this more likely in people who are younger or from ethnic minorities.

This is the first study to identify an improvement in dementia diagnosis in hospitals over time, and also the first to find inequity between ethnic groups for the first time.

The observational study looked at individuals who went to hospital within one year of being diagnosed with dementia at a NHS memory clinic. In 2008, 48.7% of dementia patients had dementia listed as a diagnosis on their hospital discharge summary, increasing to 61.5% in 2016.

Analysis has also shown that those who are from ethnic minority backgrounds are twice as likely to have missed diagnoses in general hospital compared to white patients. Dementia is also less likely to be recognised in single people, younger people and those with more severe physical illnesses.

Diagnosis is important in ensuring that patient care is tailored accordingly and that the correct help can be given once patients have been discharged.

Dr Andrew Sommerlad, lead author of the paper, said: “While it is great that there is some improvement, a third of people with dementia are discharged from hospital without it being recognised that they have dementia. They may need help for example, with remembering agreed new plans about their health and with remembering to take their medication, but this help cannot be given unless the condition is identified.”

The study was conducted by UCL researchers in collaboration with individuals from King’s College London and various NHS Foundation Trusts.

To read the full paper, visit Alzheimer’s and Dementia Journal.