Introduction:

Dementia is the disease that contributes the most to disability, dependency and mortality in the elderly. However, the frequency and nature of the problem in the older population of Havana province, Cuba, is unknown.

Objectives:

To determine the prevalence and risk factors of dementia in people 80 years or older.

Methods:

A secondary analysis of the database of the study Aging and Alzheimer (10-66) was carried out from June 2003 to December 2007. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in seven selected health areas of Havana province. The universe was made up of 2017 people aged 65 and over. A sample of 480 people aged 80 years or older was taken, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were statistically validated using chi square, Student's t, Poisson and Cox regression.

Results:

The prevalence of dementia in people older than 80 years was 25.8%, being significantly influenced by the presence of comorbidity (OR 7.90; 95% CI 6.27-9.94). A higher educational level was associated with a lower risk of dementia (OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.66-0.88).

Conclusions:

A high prevalence of dementia was evidenced in people older than 80 years or older. A higher educational level showed a protective effect, an association between comorbidity and the presence of dementia was identified.

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