Accounting for lack of representation in dementia research: Generalizing KHANDLE study findings on the prevalence of cognitive impairment to the California older population

Abstract

Introduction: Most dementia studies are not population-representative; statistical tools can be applied to samples to obtain critically-needed population-representative estimates, but are not yet widely used.

Methods: We pooled data from the Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences (KHANDLE) study and the California Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (CA-BRFSS), a population-representative study. Using weights accounting for sociodemographic/health differences between KHANDLE and CA-BRFSS, we estimated cognitive impairment prevalence and age- and sex-adjusted racial/ethnic inequalities in California adults 65+ without prior dementia diagnosis.

Results: After weighting KHANDLE, the estimated cognitive impairment prevalence in California was 20.3% (95% confidence interval 17.8-23.0); unweighted prevalence was 24.8% (23.1%-26.6%). Inequalities (larger prevalences) were observed among Black and Asian groups versus whites.

Discussion: We used a novel statistical approach to estimate population-representative cognitive impairment prevalence and inequalities. Such statistical tools can help obtain population-representative estimates from existing studies and inform efforts to reduce racial/ethnic disparities.

Keywords: cognitive impairment; dementia; generalizability; prevalence; racial/ethnic disparities.