The prevalence and incidence of delirium superimposed on dementia in community settings: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Alice Burnand, Elizabeth L. Sampson, Kate Walters, Ayesha Dar, Jess Kay, Daniel Davis, Victoria Vickerstaff, Nathan DaviesAbstract
Delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) is a serious condition causing poor outcomes. There is a significant gap in understanding the epidemiology in community settings. This systematic review aimed to estimate the prevalence and incidence of delirium in community‐dwelling people with dementia. Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to January 6, 2025. Articles published in peer‐reviewed journals that focused on the prevalence, incidence, or occurrence of DSD were included. Twenty‐seven studies met the inclusion criteria. The overall pooled prevalence of DSD was 30.2%, with a sensitivity analysis of 27.7%. Prevalence varied by country, setting, and tool used for case ascertainment. Our prevalence findings align with previous research but indicate a higher‐than‐expected rate of DSD in community settings compared to what may be seen in practice. Future research should address the heterogeneity and determine the validity of screening tools.