Incidence and characteristics of poisonings in older adults with and without dementia: a matched cohort study using Swedish registry data.

Authors

Ilsa R Wojt, Minh Tuan Hoang, Jonas W Wastesson, Kristina Johnell, Rose Cairns, Sara Garcia-Ptacek, Maria Eriksdotter, Edwin C K Tan

Published in

Age and ageing. Volume 55. Issue 7. Jul 02, 2026.

Abstract

Poisonings are a global public health challenge, especially for older adults with dementia. This study examined the incidence, types and medications involved at the time of poisoning among older people with and without dementia in Sweden.
Using linked Swedish national registries, we conducted a matched cohort study of individuals ≥65 years with dementia diagnosed between 2014 and 2018, matched 1:3 to controls by age and sex, and followed until December 2019. Poisonings were identified via International Classification of Disease-10 codes. Incidence rates (IR) and hazard ratios (HR) were estimated using survival models.
Among 415 016 participants, dementia was associated with higher poisoning incidence (IR 100.3 vs 76.4 per 100 000 person-months; HR at 6 months 1.48). Risks were greatest for unintentional poisonings, toxic pharmaceutical effects and adverse drug reactions within 6 months postdiagnosis. Psychotropics, antithrombotics and cardiovascular medications were the most commonly used.
Dementia is associated with poisoning risk, warranting cautious prescribing and prevention strategies.

PMID:
42497097
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 25 Jul 2026.

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