Race‐related population attributable fraction of preventable risk factors of dementia: A Latino population‐based study

Abstract

Abstract Background Risk factors for dementia have distinct frequency and impact in relation to race. Our aim was to identify differences in modifiable risk factors of dementia related to races and estimate their population attributable fraction (PAF). Methods An epidemiological cohort was used to estimate the prevalence of 10 modifiable risk factors for dementia among five races—White, Black, Brown, Asian, and Indigenous. Sample weighting was used to estimate the prevalence and PAF of each risk factor in each race. Results A total of 9070 individuals were included. Overall adjusted PAF was the lowest in Indigenous (38.9%), and Asian individuals (41.2%). Race‐related prevalence of individual risk factors was widely variable in our population, but hearing loss was the most important contributor to the overall PAF in all races. Conclusions Public policies aiming to reduce preventable risk factors for dementia should take into consideration the race of the target populations. HIGHLIGHTS Preventable risk factors for dementia vary according to race. Hearing loss presented the highest prevalence among all races studied. Indigenous and Asian individuals presented the lowest population attributable fractions. Black and Brown individuals were more vulnerable to social determinants.

Keywords

• dementia
• epidemiology
• Latino
• primary care
• public health