ADRD-specific diagnosis intensity varies most for Black, Hispanic, and youngest subgroups<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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MONDAY, Aug. 19, 2024 (HealthDay News) — The rate of new Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) diagnoses varies across the United States, according to a study published online Aug. 16 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia<\/em>.<\/p>\n Julie P.W. Bynum, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, and colleagues used Medicare claims for a cohort of older adults across hospital referral regions (HRRs) to measure geographic variation in diagnosed cases of ADRD. ADRD-specific regional diagnosis intensity was measured as the ratio of expected new ADRD cases based on population demographics, risk factors, and practice intensity compared to observed cases.<\/p>\n The researchers found that across HRRs, the crude new ADRD diagnosis rate ranged from 1.7 to 5.4 per 100. The intensity of ADRD-specific diagnosis varied from 0.69 to 1.47 and varied most for Black, Hispanic, and the youngest (ages 66 to 74 years) subgroups. ADRD diagnosis intensity was associated with a twofold difference in receiving an ADRD diagnosis across all subgroups.<\/p>\n “These findings raise important questions regarding the degree to which differences in access and health care practices may drive excess variability in ADRD detection,” the authors write.<\/p>\n