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Ethnic differences in the prevalence and pattern of dementia-related behaviors
Sink KM, Covinsky KE, Newcomer R, Yaffe K.. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2004-08-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objectives To determine the prevalence of dementia-related behaviors in a large, multiethnic sample of community-dwelling patients with moderate to severe dementia and to determine whether differences in patient or caregiver characteristics could explain any differences in prevalence of these behaviors between white and nonwhite patients. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Community-based. Participants A total of 5,776 Medicare patients (5,090 white, 469 black, 217 Latino; mean age 78.9) enrolled in the Medicare Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration and Evaluation study at eight sites across the United States between 1989 and 1991. Measurements Trained interviewers collected information on patient demographic characteristics, cognitive and functional status, and caregiver characteristics such as relationship to patient, functional status, depression, and burden. Ethnicity was obtained by self-report. Caregivers were asked if the patient typically demonstrated any of eight dementia-related behaviors. To determine the independent association between ethnicity and dementia-related behaviors, logistic regression models were developed for each of the behaviors, adjusting for patient and caregiver characteristics. Results Overall, 92% of patients had one or more dementia-related behaviors. Sixty-one percent of black and 57% of Latino patients were reported to have four or more behaviors, compared with 46% of white patients (P Conclusion Black and Latino community-dwelling patients with moderate to severe dementia have a higher prevalence of dementia-related behaviors than whites. Therefore, as the aging minority population grows, it will be especially important to target caregiver education, in-home support, and resources to minority communities.
Key findings
- Caregivers were asked if the patient typically demonstrated any of eight dementia-related behaviors.
- Results Overall, 92% of patients had one or more dementia-related behaviors.
- Sixty-one percent of black and 57% of Latino patients were reported to have four or more behaviors, compared with 46% of white patients (P Conclusion Black and Latino community-dwelling patients with moderate to severe dementia have a higher prevalence of dementia-related behaviors than whites.
Why it matters
In this sample, black and Latino patients with moderate to severe dementia were reported to have more dementia-related behaviours than white patients. This describes differences in behaviour prevalence and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants5,776
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 55/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of the American Geriatrics Society: journal h-index 344 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2004 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 5,776 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 140 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.8 citations a year over 24 year(s) since 2004 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 7 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 22 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Kristine S. Yaffe: h-index 155 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, San Francisco: institution h-index 1,915 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 15271114) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 55 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Sink, K. M., Covinsky, K. E., Newcomer, R., & Yaffe, K. (2004). Ethnic differences in the prevalence and pattern of dementia-related behaviors. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52356.x
Vancouver
Sink KM, Covinsky KE, Newcomer R, Yaffe K. Ethnic differences in the prevalence and pattern of dementia-related behaviors. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2004. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52356.x. PMID: 15271114.
BibTeX
@article{sink2004-15271114,
author = {Sink, K. M. and Covinsky, K. E. and Newcomer, R. and Yaffe, K.},
title = {{Ethnic differences in the prevalence and pattern of dementia-related behaviors}},
journal = {Journal of the American Geriatrics Society},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52356.x},
pmid = {15271114},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52356.x}
}
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