Factors associated with type 2 diabetes in patients with vascular dementia: a population-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Incidence of dementia is growing rapidly and affects many people worldwide. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) might link cognitive decline and dementia, but the reasons for this association remain unclear. Our study explored the factors associated with type 2 DM in patients with dementia. METHODS: Patients (n = 40,404) with vascular dementia were identified in Taiwan’s 1997 to 2008 National Health Insurance Research Database and divided into a DM group and non-DM group. Eleven comorbidities were identified and categorized into four groups: cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, digestive system diseases, renal and metabolic system diseases, and cancer. The associations of these factors with type 2 DM were explored through multivaraible logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the patients with dementia, 22.5% had DM. Associated with a higher likelihood of DM in this population were female sex (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36–1.52), young age (range of adjusted OR: 0.55–1.13), low income (range of adjusted OR: 1.09–1.18), and renal and metabolic system diseases (OR: 2.81, 95% CI: 2.64–2.98). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that clinicians should encourage patients with dementia to receive regular glucose impairment screening if they are female, have low socioeconomic status, or have renal or metabolic diseases. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12902-018-0273-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.