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Dementia prevalence, care arrangement, and access to care in Lebanon: A pilot study
Author(s) -
Phung Kieu T.T.,
Chaaya Monique,
Prince Martin,
Atweh Samir,
El Asmar Khalil,
Karam Georges,
Khoury Rose Mary,
Ghandour Lilian,
Ghusn Husam,
Nielsen T. Rune,
Waldemar Gunhild
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2017.04.007
Subject(s) - dementia , medicine , middle east , gerontology , health care , disease , environmental health , geography , economic growth , archaeology , pathology , economics
In North Africa and the Middle East, studies about dementia prevalence are scarce. A pilot study was conducted in Lebanon to assess dementia prevalence, using the Arabic‐validated 10/66 Dementia Research Group (DRG) diagnostic assessment for case ascertainment. The study also examined care arrangement and access to care. Methods A random sample of 502 persons older than 65 years and their informant were recruited from Beirut and Mount Lebanon governorates through multistage cluster sampling. Results The crude and age‐standardized dementia prevalences were 7.4% and 9.0%, respectively. People with dementia were mainly cared for by relatives at home. Access to formal care was very limited. Discussion Dementia prevalence in Lebanon ranks high within the global range of estimates. These first evidence‐based data about disease burden and barriers to care serve to raise awareness and call for social and health care reform to tackle the dementia epidemic in Lebanon and in North Africa and the Middle East.