Abstract
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Abstract
Using multiple-cause-of-death data, this study investigates mortality from Alzheimer’s disease. From 2004 through 2011, Alzheimer’s disease was coded as a cause of 80,868 deaths—more often the underlying than a contributing cause. The rate of Alzheimer’s disease deaths was higher for women and older individuals than for men and younger people, and varied considerably by province/territory. Regardless of whether Alzheimer’s disease was coded as the underlying or a contributing cause, on average, two other causes were also listed on the death certificate. When Alzheimer’s disease was the underlying cause, cardiovascular diseases were most often listed as a contributing cause; when Alzheimer’s disease was a contributing cause, cardiovascular diseases were most often listed as the underlying cause.
Keywords
Cardiovascular diseases, comorbidity, databases, death certificates, dementia, vital statistics
Findings
Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, is a progressive, degenerative and fatal brain disorder characterized by loss of memory and the ability to think and communicate, and by changes in mood and behaviour. The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias is expected to rise rapidly, with one report projecting the number of cases in Canada reach more than one million by 2038. In 2011, it ranked seventh among the leading causes of death (ninth among men, sixth among women). [Full Text]
Authors
Jungwee Park (jungwee.park@canada.ca) is with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6.
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