A Clinical Quality Registry for Dementia in Ethiopia (CQRD Ethiopia)

Globally, a rapid demographic transition is occurring with a significant increment in the proportion of older individuals. Recent reviews estimate that globally one new case of dementia has been diagnosed every three seconds; close to 60% of people living with dementia currently live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and most new cases (71%) are expected to occur in those countries. 

Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa harboring more than 115 million people. The proportion of older people in the population is expected to rise in the coming decades. Currently, the average life expectancy in Ethiopia is 67.8 years and this number is expected to reach 74 years by the mid-century. In Ethiopia, dementia prevalence is projected to increase by 380-2000% by the year 2050. The expected surge of people living with dementia (PLD) in Ethiopia is likely fueled by the high prevalence of dementia risk factors such as the increasing age of the population, non-communicable disease, infectious diseases, and traumatic brain injuries coupled with low education and other social factors. Currently, dementia care service and research in Ethiopia is at its infancy and lacks uniformity and standard evaluation methods for individuals with cognitive concerns visiting tertiary hospitals. Furthermore, in Ethiopia, the number of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Diseases and Related Dementia (ADRD) is very low compared to other common neurological disorders such as stroke, movement disorders, and epilepsy. According to a six-month clinical audit report completed in the first half of 2022 from the neurology outpatient clinic at our hospital, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were not listed in the top ten neurological disorders seen at the facility.