Epidemiology of Alzheimer’s in Malta
Dementia refers to a variety of medical disorders characterized by loss of memory, weakening of humans’ organization, and planning skills. Dementia is a major predictor of morbidity and mortality among the aged in the society. According to a recent study, the global prevalence of dementia double every 20-year period. The calculations in various reports only detail the estimate of people with dementia in the Maltese islands. In reality, the number of the patients is higher. The EURODEM report detail that the number of individual with dementia is 4072 and is likely to double by 2030. Alzheimer prevalence accounts mostly as a type of dementia.
Health practitioners cite that the dementia disorder is a silent epidemic that challenges the social and health care systems in the world. In 2005, the EURODEM project shows the rise of the disease along the Maltese islands. The EUROCODE project carries out the prevalence of the disease to review the analysis. According to EUROCODE, the individuals with dementia (IWD) occur on the individuals over the age of 60.Scientist offers that the cost of dementia is over € 435 billion in 2010. Most cases occur on the Western Europe and North America regions. The global estimates indicate 35.6 million people as victims of dementia in that year. The number of victims continually escalates and can probably reach 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 in 2050. The prevalence of this disorder affects the aged in the society. Most people over the age of 60 have a high chance of contracting the disease.
The EUROCODE cites that most of the IWD occur in the developing countries. The continent of Europe has 40 per cent IWD, North America has 63 per cent IWD, Southern Latin region has 77 per cent IWD, and Asia Pacific has 89 per cent IWD.
The recent epidemiological report cite that the gender specific prevalence rate underestimate the number of IWD. The EUODEM project reveals the prevalence rate of Alzheimer occurrence relates to the age of the IWD. The EURODEM report in 2009 cites that at least 7.3 million are the IWD in Europe 2006. The EUROCODE analysis projects an accurate estimate in the Maltese islands.
The Maltese society is predisposed of the increasing number of the aged contracting the ailment. The National Dementia Strategy Group highlights that at least 2 per cent of the population of the Maltese society has a high chance of having dementia. This number doubles and it is crucial to strategize to combat the disorder. The EURODEM and the EUROCODE report in 2010 demonstrate that the prevalence rate affects mostly the females. The female individual outnumber male in the ratio of 2:1 in 2010. The projection suggests that the number is likely to double in the next 50 years. This is close to 4 per cent of the population of the Maltese society. The current collaborative analysis suggests that the prevalence of the dementia is unlikely to change. The projection cites that the proportion for Malta will increase in the age segment and will affect the mortality rates. This will also affect the working-age bracket.
Gender prevalence rate of dementia in Maltese islands
In 2009, the WHO statistics estimate that more than 6.8 million elderly people are IWD in EU member states. France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland have the highest prevalence. The IWD in other regions is lower in Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, and Macedonia. The estimates of the EURODEM prevalence rate have fewer people as the age progresses because of the increase in the mortality rate. Studies in these results factor in migration, fertility rates, the mortality patterns, and the treatment of the IWD.
Figure 1: The prevalence of dementia in Europe
The increase of the number of the prevalence rates affects the health care services, increase primary care consultations, and increase admission for health care. It is inevitable to address the cases of dementia due to the increase in the number of victims. The Maltese government has to prioritize on the health sector to meet the challenge. The various reports cited can assist the health fraternity to address and treat the cases of dementia. There is need to treat the cases of dementia at the early stages by providing respite for the victims. There is need for more accurate information on the prevalence of cases of dementia in the Maltese islands.
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