Risk of dementia and death in community-dwelling older men with bipolar disorder. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Almeida, Osvaldo P.; McCaul, Kieran; Hankey, Graeme J.; Yeap, Bu B.; Golledge, Jonathan; Flicker, Leon
• Is Part Of: British journal of psychiatry. Volume 209:Number 2(2016)
• Page Start: 121
• Page End: 126
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychology, Pathological -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.115.180059
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1250

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Bipolar disorder has been associated with cognitive decline, but confirmatory evidence from a community-derived sample of older people is lacking. Aims: To investigate the 13-year risk of dementia and death in older adults with bipolar disorder. Method: Cohort study of 37 768 men aged 65–85 years. Dementia (primary) and death (secondary), as recorded by electronic record linkage, were the outcomes of interest. Results: Bipolar disorder was associated with increased adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of dementia (HR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.80–2.94). The risk of dementia was greatest among those with <5 years of history of bipolar disorder or who had had illness onset after 70 years of age. Bipolar disorder was also associated with increased mortality (HR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.28–1.77). Competing risk regression showed that bipolar disorder was associated with increased hazard of death by suicide, accidents, pneumonia or influenza, and diseases of the liver and digestive system. Conclusions: Bipolar disorder in later life is associated with increased risk of dementia and premature death.