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. 2021;83(4):1849-1857.
doi: 10.3233/JAD-210634.

A National Survey of Centers for Cognitive Disorders and Dementias in Italy

Marco Canevelli  1   2 , Alessandra Di Pucchio  1 , Fabrizio Marzolini  1 , Flavia Mayer  1 , Marco Massari  3 , Emanuela Salvi  3 , Ilaria Palazzesi  1 , Eleonora Lacorte  1 , Ilaria Bacigalupo  1 , Teresa Di Fiandra  4 , Nicola Vanacore  1
Affiliations

A National Survey of Centers for Cognitive Disorders and Dementias in Italy

Marco Canevelli et al. J Alzheimers Dis. 2021.

Abstract

Background: Italy has one of the oldest populations in the World and more than one million dementia cases can be estimated at the national level.

Objective: The objectives of this national survey include: 1) to report the administrative features and the professional competencies of Centers for Cognitive Disorders and Dementias (CCDDs); 2) to document possible discrepancies by geographic macro-area; and 3) to identify the features of CCDDs that are associated with a better quality in the provision of care.

Methods: A survey of Italian CCDDs was conducted between February 2014 and December 2015. A list of CCDDs was obtained through direct interactions with designed delegates from each Italian region. A questionnaire was defined on five sections concerning: 1) location of the CCDD; 2) access to the CCDD; 3) organization of the CCDD; 4) services and treatments provided; and 5) quantitative data on the activities of the CCDD.

Results: Overall, 577 out of the 597 eligible CCDDs returned the completed survey questionnaire (response rate: 96.6%): 260 (45.1%) from Northern Italy, 103 (17.8%) from Central Italy, and 214 (37.1%) from Southern-Islands Italy. More than a third of CCDDs were open only once or twice weekly. A median of 450 (IQR: 200-800) patients regularly attended these services. Most patients (70%) were affected by dementia or mild cognitive impairment (19%).

Conclusion: We have provided a snapshot of the organization and activities of CCDDs in Italy and documented existing inequalities in the provision of care.

Keywords: Cognitive disorders; dementia; healthcare services; memory clinics; public health; services; survey.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors’ disclosures available online (https://www.j-alz.com/manuscript-disclosures/21-0634r2).

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Geographic distribution of Italian CCDDs and Estimated mean number of dementia cases per CCDD. A) Number of CCDDs in each Italian region. Geographic macro-areas were defined according to the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) categorization. B) Estimated mean number of dementia cases per CCDD at the regional level. Dementia cases were estimated by multiplying the number of older (i.e., 65+) adults living in each Italian region in 2019 (source: http://demo.istat.it/) and the age- and sex-specific prevalence rates (21).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Opening days per week of Italian CCDDs by geographic macro-area. Data are expressed as %.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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