Dementia – Prevalence, trends and regional patterns in Germany. An analysis based on routine data from the statutory health insurance

Abstract

Background: As part of the German Burden of Disease Study, population-based prevalences of important diseases are estimated. This allows regional patterns and temporal trends to be identified.

Methods: The prevalence of dementia in the population was estimated cross-sectionally for the years 2017 to 2022 at the level of the Spatial Planning Regions using routine data of persons insured in the statutory health insurance AOK, adjusted for age, sex and morbidity (administrative prevalence).

Results: In 2022, the prevalence of dementia in Germany was 2.8 % of the population aged 40 and over. In women the prevalence was 3.3 %, in men 2.4 %. The prevalence of dementia rises sharply with age. For example, the prevalence among people aged 65 and over was 6.9 %. A slight downward trend was observed between 2017 and 2022. The age-standardised regional distribution shows a clear pattern of higher prevalence in eastern Germany and the eastern part of Bavaria.

Conclusions: Measured by administrative prevalence, the public health significance of dementia remains largely stable. However, demographic change is expected to increase the number of people affected by dementia. Prevention of modifiable risk factors is therefore essential, especially in middle age.