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Article

Abstract

The University of South Carolina (USC), Arnold School of Public Health in cooperation with the South Carolina (SC) Department of Health and Human Services, the SC Department of Mental Health, and the USC School of Medicine, maintains a statewide registry of SC residents diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder. The registry is located in The Arnold School of Public Health, USC. All cases are identified from a computerized medical record search. The data reported includes any individual identified who was alive on January 1, 2001. The goals of the registry include:

• reporting annual prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders by demographic characteristics,

• providing prevalence data to public and private agencies for planning purposes, and

• fostering research into the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and caregiver distress.

Since January 1, 1988, the Registry has identified 85,868 cases of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD). During the calendar year 2001, the registry maintained information on 56,918 individuals with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder who were alive on January 1, 2001. Sixty-one percent of Registry cases had a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, 13 percent had a diagnosis of dementia due to stroke, and 26 percent were diagnosed with a dementia related to other chronic conditions.

Approximately 61% of the registry cases are Alzheimer's disease. Based on either method ofprevalence estimates (the Minnesota study or Capture-recapture), the number of South Carolinians with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders will about double in the next fifteen years.

Highlights from the 2001 Alzheimer's Disease Registry prevalence data include:

• 61% of all Registry cases are identified as Alzheimer's Disease.

• 42% of those with Alzheimer's disease are currently 85 years or older.

• 58% of all Registry cases reside a community setting.

• 37% of all Registry cases reside in an institution

• 63% of all Registry cases in institutions have Alzheimer's disease.

• 66% of all Registry cases are women

• 35% of all Registry cases are African American

• African Americans are more likely to reside in the community.

The growth and development of the registry and the related research program in aging has been due to the support of many individuals and organizations. We particularly want to acknowledge the contribution ofThe Arnold School of Public Health at USC for core support; the USC School ofMedicine (Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics) for providing collaboration; the SC Department of Mental Health and the Budget and Control Board for access to data; the SC Department of Health and Human Services for core support and access to data; the SC Department ofHealth and Environmental Control, Vital Records and Public Health Statistics; and the Office on Aging, SC Department of Health and Human Services for their continued support.

Any state or local agency may request the registry staff to provide specific data summaries (without identifiers). These requests are handled on an individual basis and will be provided free of charge, as time allows. Contact the registry staff at (803) 777-5337 for further information.

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© Office for the Study of Aging, University of South Carolina

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