Dementia and acute care of ischemic stroke in Japan: A retrospective observational study using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database

Aim This study aimed to determine the impact of dementia on the implementation of intravenous thrombolysis and early rehabilitation as acute care for patients with acute ischemic stroke in Japan. Methods This retrospective observational study used the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. Patients aged ≥75 years with acute ischemic stroke (ICD‐10 code: I63) were enrolled ( n = 464 710). In this study, dementia was identified using the ICD‐10 codes (F00, F01, F02, F03, G30, and G31) for comorbidity. A mixed‐effects logistic regression analysis nested at the hospital level was conducted to examine the impact of dementia on the implementation of intravenous thrombolysis and early rehabilitation. Results Overall, 57 905 patients with ischemic stroke had dementia. The group with dementia was less likely to receive intravenous thrombolysis (5.2% vs. 6.9%) and more likely to undergo early rehabilitation than the group without dementia (76.1% vs. 73.0%). In the mixed‐effects logistic regression analysis, dementia was significantly associated with a lower probability of undergoing intravenous thrombolysis (adjusted odds ratio: 0.79, 95% confidence interval: 0.76–0.82, P < 0.001) and a higher probability of early rehabilitation (adjusted odds ratio: 1.06, 95% confidence interval: 1.04–1.09, P < 0.001). Conclusions We found that while dementia was associated with fewer opportunities for aggressive treatment, such as intravenous thrombolysis, it was also associated with increased opportunities to receive rehabilitation. It is necessary to examine the reasons why patients with dementia do not receive aggressive treatment and to establish a system that allows older adults with and without dementia to receive equal access to medical care. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 270–274 .