Beyond Diagnosis: Characterising Symptom Profiles of Dementia in a Resource-Limited South African Clinical Setting

Background: The demographic and clinical heterogeneity of dementia is well recognised; however, the consistency of core symptom profiles across age and gender in clinical populations remains underexplored. This study aimed to determine the burden and distribution of dementia-related symptoms in selected rural health facilities in South Africa. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 patients with a diagnosed dementia condition. Data on demographics and key symptoms (memory loss, short-term memory loss, behavioural changes, delusions and communication difficulties), as well as chronic disease comorbidities, were extracted from electronic health records. Associations were assessed using Chi-square tests. Results: The cohort was predominantly female (59.6%) and older (64.3% aged ≥71 years). Symptom prevalence was high: short-term memory loss and behavioural changes (96.9% each), general memory loss (91.2%), chronic disease comorbidity (75.8%), communication difficulties (67.3%), and delusions (57.7%). No statistically significant associations were found between any of the dementia symptoms and age or gender (p > 0.05), indicating a uniformly high symptom burden across demographic subgroups. Conclusions: Dementia-related symptoms and comorbidities were consistently high and severe in this clinical population, irrespective of age or gender. These findings underscore the need for integrated, person-centred care models addressing both cognitive and physical health in resource-limited settings.