Objective  To understand the level and trend of mortality of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in China from 2013 to 2021.

Methods The mortality data of Alzheimer's disease and other dements in China from 2013 to 2021 were extracted from China Cause of Death Surveillance Datasets 2013−2021, and the under-reporting of crude mortality rate was adjusted. Based on the 2010 national census data, software SAS 9.4 was used to standardize the adjusted crude mortality rate. For the under-reporting adjusted mortality data, software Excel 2022 was used to analyze the trends in different age groups, and software Joinpoint 5.0.2 was used to analyze the variation trends of crude and standardized mortality rates of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in men and women and in urban and rural areas in China from 2013 to 2021. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) and its 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated.

Results From 2013 to 2021, the crude mortality rate of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias increased from 6.15/100 000 to 7.38/100 000 in China, while the standardized mortality rate decreased from 5.35/100 000 to 4.25/100 000. Over this period, the crude mortality rate of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias showed an increasing trend, while the standardized mortality rate showed a decreasing trend (AAPC=2.45%, AAPC=−2.55%, both P<0.050). The crude mortality rates of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in both men and women showed increasing trends (AAPC=1.81%, AAPC=2.71%, both P<0.050), while the standardized mortality rates showed decreasing trends (AAPC=−2.89%, AAPC=−2.39%, both P<0.050). The crude mortality rates of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in both urban residents and rural residents showed increasing trends (AAPC=1.35%, AAPC=2.83%, both P<0.050). The standardized mortality rate in urban residents showed a decreasing trend (AAPC=−2.85%, P<0.050), while the standardized mortality rate in rural residents remained stable (AAPC=−2.35%, P>0.050). Women had higher crude mortality rate (7.24/100 000) compared with men (5.43/100 000), but lower standardized mortality rate (4.56/100 000) compared with men (4.76/100 000). Rural area had higher crude mortality rate (6.61/100 000) and standardized mortality rate (4.92/100 000) compared with urban area (5.76/100 000 and 4.21/100 000). Additionally, the crude mortality rate of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias showed a clear upward trend with age beyond 60 years in China.

Conclusion From 2013 to 2021, the crude mortality rate of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias showed an increasing trend, while the standardized mortality rate showed a decreasing trend in China. Given the rapid population aging, more efforts are needed to reduce the mortality rate of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias by taking targeted tertiary prevention strategies according to local conditions and needs.