Table 1 Case definition algorithms employed to identify dementia in administrative health databases, by Canadian study

Present study^a

≥1 physician visits or ≥ 1 hospitalizations or ≥ 1 prescriptions for a cholinesterase inhibitor or [a RAI-MDS CPS score of ≥ 2 and/or (a disease category of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia other than Alzheimer’s disease)]

≥45 years

1 year (2012–2013)

Manitoba Centre for Health Policy [38]^c

≥1 physician visits or ≥ 1 hospitalizations

≥55 years

Not applicable^b

Chartier et al. [39]

≥1 physician visits or ≥ 1 hospitalizations

≥55 years

5 years (2004–2009)

Martens et al. [40]

≥1 physician visits or ≥ 1 hospitalizations

≥55 years

5 years (2002–2007)

Fransoo et al. [41]

≥1 physician visits or ≥ 1 hospitalizations

≥55 years

5 years (1996–2001) and 5 years (2001–2006)

Gill et al. [42]

≥1 physician visits or ≥ 1 hospitalizations or any cholinesterase inhibitor prescription

66-105 years

5 years (2002–2007) for physician and hospital data; 1 year for prescription data (2006–2007)

Jacklin et al. [43]

≥1 physician visits

all ages

1 year (2008–2009)

Jacklin and Walker [44]

≥2 physician visits or ≥ 1 hospitalizations

≥60 years

1 year (2006–2007)