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Prevalence of dementia in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Wu YT, Ali GC, Guerchet M, Prina AM, Chan KY, Prince M, Brayne C.. International journal of epidemiology, 2018-06-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background There are several existing systematic reviews of prevalence of dementia for mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, but several studies have been newly reported. The aim of this study is to update prevalence data in this region and test for variation across geographical areas and time periods using the new dataset. Methods Twenty prevalence studies identified from World Alzheimer Report 2015 (January 2011-March 2015) and an updated search (March 2015-February 2017) were added to the original dataset (N = 76). Meta-regression was used to investigate geographical variation and time trends, taking methodological factors and characteristics of study population into account, and to estimate prevalence and number of people with dementia by geographical area. Results Compared with northern China, the prevalence of dementia was lower in the central China [-1.0; 95% confidence interval (CI):-2.2, 0.3], south China (-1.7; 95% CI: -3.1, -0.3), Hong Kong and Taiwan (-3.0; 95% CI: -5.0, -1.0) but appeared to be higher in western China (2.8; 95% CI: 0.1, 5.5) after adjusting for methodological variation. The increasing trend from pre-1990 to post-2010 periods was considerably attenuated when taking into account methodological factors and geographical areas. The updated estimated number of people with dementia in all these areas is 9.5 million (5.3%; 95% CI: 4.3, 6.3) in the population aged 60 or above. Conclusions Geographical variation in dementia prevalence is confirmed in this update, whereas evidence on increasing trends is still insufficient. Differing societal development across areas provides an opportunity to investigate risk factors at the population level operating across diverse life course experiences. Such research could advance global primary prevention of dementia.
Key findings
- Results Compared with northern China, the prevalence of dementia was lower in the central China [-1.0; 95% confidence interval (CI):-2.2, 0.3], south China (-1.7; 95% CI: -3.1, -0.3), Hong Kong and Taiwan (-3.0; 95% CI: -5.0, -1.0) but appeared to be higher in western China (2.8; 95% CI: 0.1, 5.5) after adjusting for methodological variation.
Why it matters
This systematic review and meta-analysis updated estimates of dementia prevalence in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, finding regional variation and an estimated 9.5 million people with dementia in these areas. It provides prevalence data only and does not address treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants76
- Effect size5.3%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 55/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International journal of epidemiology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | International Journal of Epidemiology: journal h-index 328 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 76 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| 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 157 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 15.7 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 3.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 10 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 41 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Carol Brayne: h-index 159 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Cambridge: institution h-index 1,973 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 29444280) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 55 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyy007
- PubMed: 29444280
- Original source →
- Free full text: International Journal of Epidemiology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Wu, Y. T., Ali, G. C., Guerchet, M., Prina, A. M., Chan, K. Y., Prince, M., et al. (2018). Prevalence of dementia in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. International journal of epidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyy007
Vancouver
Wu YT, Ali GC, Guerchet M, Prina AM, Chan KY, Prince M, et al. Prevalence of dementia in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. International journal of epidemiology. 2018. doi:10.1093/ije/dyy007. PMID: 29444280.
BibTeX
@article{wu2018-29444280,
author = {Wu, Y. T. and Ali, G. C. and Guerchet, M. and Prina, A. M. and Chan, K. Y. and Prince, M. and Brayne, C.},
title = {{Prevalence of dementia in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis}},
journal = {International journal of epidemiology},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1093/ije/dyy007},
pmid = {29444280},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyy007}
}
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