International Journal of Clinical Case Reports 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 48-54 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/ijccr 51 higher risk at a younger age compared to other groups. The trend indicates that the prevalence rate for the homeless population spikes between the ages of 55 to 75, with an especially notable increase for men aged 45-54. The data underscores the necessity for early dementia-related interventions for the homeless population, especially as the prevalence rates for the older age groups appear to converge, suggesting that the greatest disparity occurs within the younger age cohorts. Figure 1 Age-standardised dementia prevalence among age and sex strata by population group Table 3 outlines the characteristics of the homeless population, comparing individuals with and without a diagnosis of dementia. The results indicate that those diagnosed with dementia are generally older, with a median age of 72, in contrast to the median age of 56 among those without a diagnosis. Individuals with dementia also have a higher rate of healthcare service usage, as evidenced by more frequent emergency department visits and hospital admissions. Moreover, the presence of comorbidities is significantly higher in the dementia group, particularly head trauma, stroke, and chronic conditions such as hypertension and coronary artery disease. The prevalence of substance-related disorders is lower within the dementia subgroup. This table emphasizes the health disparities faced by homeless individuals with dementia, indicating that they have more complex health needs and greater engagement with healthcare services, highlighting the potential for medical intervention. Figure 2 is an odds ratio (OR) analysis of various factors associated with a dementia diagnosis among the homeless population. The results show a significant increase in dementia risk with age. Women have a lower chance of being diagnosed with dementia compared to men. The number of emergency department visits is associated with a slight increase in the risk of dementia, while the number of hospital admissions is not a significant factor. Notably, conditions such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis more than double the risk of dementia, and HIV nearly triples it. Substance-related disorders and deliberate self-harm show a reduced OR, indicating a negative correlation with dementia diagnoses. These findings emphasize the complexity of health conditions that lead to dementia among the homeless population and could guide targeted interventions.
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