Title : Effects of dementia on incident Post-COVID Conditions (PCC) in patients with SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19)
Abstract:
Dementia is associated with a heightened acute response to SARS-CoV-2, but limited data exist on Post-COVID Conditions (PCC) in people with dementia (PWD). This retrospective study assessed PCC incidence in PWD compared to people without dementia (PWoD) within Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States (KPMAS). We used KPMAS electronic health records to identify adult patients ≥65 years with a positive PCR and/or antigen test for COVID-19 between 1/1/2020-1/31/2022. PWD were defined using ICD-10 dementia-related codes within four years prior to their first positive COVID-19 test and were matched 1:3 to PWoD by sex, age group, race/ethnicity, test month, and medical service area. PCC incidence was defined as the occurrence of at least one of 17 conditions within 30–180 days post-index date, and not in the four years before and/or 29 days after the index date. Relative risk of PCC and its 17 conditions, along with odds ratios for demographic analysis, were calculated between PWD and PWoD.
A total of 373 PWD were matched to 1,119 PWoD, with both groups predominantly black (56%) and female (54%), and a median age of 76.8 years. PCC occurred in 22.8% of PWD and 23.3% of PWoD (RR=0.97 [0.79-1.21]). Only the risk of "genitourinary symptoms and ill-defined conditions" was higher in PWD (RR=1.80 [1.02-3.19]). Demographic factors such as age, race/ethnicity, and sex did not influence PCC risk in PWD. We found no increased risk of PCC among PWD compared to matched PWoD in age, race, and sex. Demographic characteristics in PWD were not associated with PCC.
