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58/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 58 out of 100. How common it is

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

Background Zinc deficiency is prevalent among older adults and individuals with dementia; however, its prognostic significance in this population remains unclear. We investigated the association between zinc deficiency and clinical outcomes in patients with dementia. Methods This retrospective matched cohort study used data from the TriNetX Research Network. Adult patients with dementia diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2024 were categorized according to their first recorded serum zinc measurement as zinc-deficient (<70 μg/dL) or normal (70–120 μg/dL). The date of the first qualifying zinc measurement served as the index date. The primary outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included sepsis, intensive care unit admission, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, acute kidney injury, and elevated C-reactive protein levels. Sensitivity, subgroup, and dose–response analyses were performed. Results After matching, 1,241 patients remained in each cohort. Zinc deficiency was significantly associated with higher 1-year mortality (10.1% vs. 6.8%; hazard ratio [HR] 1.54; p = 0.002). Increased risks were also observed for sepsis (HR 1.76; p = 0.001), intensive care unit admission (HR 1.67; p = 0.004), urinary tract infection (HR 1.47; p < 0.001), and elevated C-reactive protein levels (HR 1.49; p = 0.002). These associations were attenuated during extended follow-up (1–3 years) and were no longer statistically significant. Dose–response analysis revealed that severe zinc deficiency (<50 μg/dL) conferred a greater mortality risk (HR 1.85; p = 0.002) and nearly three-fold higher sepsis risk (HR 2.92; p < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings. Conclusion In this observational study, zinc deficiency was associated with increased 1-year mortality and infection-related complications in patients with dementia, with evidence of a dose–response relationship. However, these findings do not establish causation. Future prospective studies are warranted to determine whether zinc supplementation can improve the clinical outcomes of zinc-deficient patients with dementia.

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APA 7th

Chen, I., Chang, L.-C., Lai, Y.-C., & Hung, K.-C. (2026). Association between zinc deficiency and adverse outcomes in patients with dementia: a matched cohort study. Frontiers in Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2026.1801558

Vancouver

Chen I, Chang L.-C, Lai Y.-C, Hung K.-C. Association between zinc deficiency and adverse outcomes in patients with dementia: a matched cohort study. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2026. doi:10.3389/fnut.2026.1801558. PMID: 41939182.

BibTeX

@article{chen2026-41939182,
  author  = {Chen, I‐Wen and Chang, Li-Chen and Lai, Yi-Chen and Hung, Kuo-Chuan},
  title   = {{Association between zinc deficiency and adverse outcomes in patients with dementia: a matched cohort study}},
  journal = {Frontiers in Nutrition},
  year    = {2026},
  doi     = {10.3389/fnut.2026.1801558},
  pmid    = {41939182},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2026.1801558}
}

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Key findings

Results After matching, 1,241 patients remained in each cohort.
Zinc deficiency was significantly associated with higher 1-year mortality (10.1% vs. 6.8%; hazard ratio [HR] 1.54; p = 0.002).
These associations were attenuated during extended follow-up (1–3 years) and were no longer statistically significant.
Dose–response analysis revealed that severe zinc deficiency (<50 μg/dL) conferred a greater mortality risk (HR 1.85; p = 0.002) and nearly three-fold higher sepsis risk (HR 2.92; p < 0.001).
Conclusion In this observational study, zinc deficiency was associated with increased 1-year mortality and infection-related complications in patients with dementia, with evidence of a dose–response relationship.

Why it matters

Among patients with dementia, zinc deficiency was linked to higher 1-year mortality and higher risks of sepsis, ICU admission, urinary tract infection and elevated C-reactive protein. These associations weakened over longer follow-up and were no longer statistically significant, so the study does not show that correcting zinc changes outcomes.

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Study details

Study designcohort study
Participants1,241
Effect size10.1%; 6.8%; HR 1.76
Evidence strengthModerate

How this study scored 58/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in Nutrition)
Journal's citation record	1 / 4	Frontiers in Nutrition: journal h-index 147 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	7 / 12	A cohort study following people over time
Strength of evidence	3 / 5	Rated “moderate” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	5 / 5	2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	3 / 4	1,241 participants
Effect reported	3 / 3	Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar)
Studied in people	3 / 3	Studied in people (participant count stated)
Randomized / blinded	0 / 2	No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	2 / 7	Cited 6 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	2 / 5	3.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026
Impact for its field and year	5 / 6	Cited 26.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	0 / 6	No other study in this library cites it
Still being cited	1 / 4	Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	1 / 4	Last-listed author Kuo-Chuan Hung: h-index 10 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	0 / 3	I-Shou University: institution h-index 192 (OpenAlex)
Multicenter collaboration	1 / 3	OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41939182)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Total	58 / 100	—

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