Association of comorbidities and socioeconomic deprivation among people who died from dementia in England between 2013 and 2023: analysis of death certificates.

objectiveTo describe the sociodemographic characteristics and comorbidities of people who died from dementia between 2013 and 2023 in England.

methodsWe analysed death certificates reported in England from 2013 to 2023. We report the number, age, sex, country of origin and socioeconomic status of people who died with a dementia diagnosis recorded (as a primary or contributory cause); the dementia subtype diagnoses and recorded comorbidities. We tested the hypothesis that number of comorbid disorders would be higher in more deprived areas.

resultsThere were 987 719 certificates in this period that recorded dementia as a cause of death, of which 693 663 (70.2%) recorded dementia as the primary cause of death. In total, 62.2% (n = 614 419) of those who died from dementia were women, 65% (n = 643 026) were aged 85+, and most (846 584, 85.7%) were born in England. Fifteen percent (n = 149 447) of included death certificates recorded dementia as sole cause of death; others included up to 10 other contributory conditions (median = 1; IQR:1-2), of which influenza and pneumonia (183 203; 18.5%), ischaemic heart diseases (114 871; 11.6%), cancers (107 444; 10.8%), hypertensive diseases (99 517; 10%) and diabetes (98 517; 10%) were the most common. After controlling for age and sex, death certificates of people living in areas with higher deprivation included a higher number of comorbidities (β = -0.04, P < .001).

conclusionsPolicies to reduce inequities in dementia care need to account for the more complex health needs of people with dementia living in more deprived areas towards the end of life.