Prevalence and clinical correlates of dementia among COVID‐19‐related deaths in Italy

Canevelli, Marco; Palmieri, Luigi; Raparelli, Valeria; Lo Noce, Cinzia; Colaizzo, Elisa; Tiple, Dorina; Vaianella, Luana; Vanacore, Nicola; Brusaferro, Silvio; Onder, Graziano

INTRODUCTION: We aimed at exploring the proportion of patients dying with COVID‐19 and concomitant dementia in Italy, as well as their clinical characteristics and trajectories of care. METHODS: The proportion of COVID‐19‐related deaths occurring in people with dementia and the clinical characteristics of deceased individuals according to their dementia status were explored by considering the medical charts of a representative sample of patients deceased in Italian hospitals (n = 2621). RESULTS: A total of 415 individuals with dementia were identified in the study population, accounting for 15.8% of overall COVID‐19‐related deaths. Patients with dementia less frequently presented with cough, had lower chance of receiving supportive therapies and intensive care approaches, and showed a faster clinical worsening as compared with individuals with intact cognition. DISCUSSION: Dementia confers a relevant risk of adverse outcomes in case of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and influences the clinical presentation, course and management of affected individuals.