Introduction: Twelve modifiable risk factors (RFs) account for 40% of dementia cases worldwide. However, limited data exist on such factors in middle- and low-income countries. We aimed to estimate the population-attributable fractions (PAFs) for the 12 RFs in Argentina, assessing changes over a decade and exploring socioeconomic and sex influences.
Methods: We conducted cross-sectional analyses of the 12 RFs from Argentinian surveys conducted in 2009, 2015, and 2018, including 96,321 people. We calculated PAFs and stratified estimates based on sex and income.
Results: We estimated an overall PAF of 59.6% (95% CI = 58.9-60.3%). The largest PAFs were hypertension = 9.3% (8.7-9.9%), physical inactivity = 7.4% (6.8-8.2%), and obesity = 7.4% (6.8-7.9%). Men were more impacted by excessive alcohol, while women by isolation and smoking. Lower income linked to higher PAFs in education, hypertension, and obesity.
Discussion: Argentina has a higher PAF for dementia than the world population, with distinct RF distribution. PAF varied by sex and economic status, advocating tailored prevention strategies.
Keywords: Argentina; Dementia; Dementia prevention; Dementia risk; Latin America; Lifestyle changes; Lifestyle risk reduction; Population-attributable fraction; Primary prevention; Risk factors; Sex; Socioeconomic differences.
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.