Person—dementia risk factors, code NN

Identifying and definitional attributes

• Health, Recorded 15/11/2021

Value domain attributes

Representational attributes

Collection and usage attributes

Record each risk factor of dementia identified by an appropriate clinician.

CODE 01     Alcohol use

Record if the person exceeded the guidelines for alcohol intake for their age in the past 7 days (based on the Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol (NHMRC 2020)).

CODE 02     Smoking

Record if the person has ever smoked. Includes tobacco and e-cigarettes.

CODE 03     Obesity

Record if the person has a Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 30.

CODE 04     Hypertension

Record if the person has a history of hypertension.

CODE 05     Hearing loss

Record if the person has hearing loss. Includes any hearing threshold response (using audiometry) outside the normal range, at any sound stimuli, in either ear.

CODE 06     Vision loss

Record if the person has full or partial vision loss caused by cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy or other conditions. Exclude vision impairment that has been corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

CODE 07     Physical inactivity

Record if the person did not meet the physical activity guidelines for their age in the past 7 days (based on the Physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians (Department of Health and Aged Care 2021)).

CODE 08     Low education attainment

Record if the person did not complete secondary education.

CODE 09     Traumatic brain injury

Record if the person has ever had a traumatic brain injury (injury to the brain caused by an external force). Includes concussion.

CODE 10     Genetic

Record if the person has a biological family history of dementia.

CODE 11     Mental illness

Record if the person has a history of a mental health disorder (also referred to as mental illness). Includes depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, personality disorders, psychoses and other cognitive, emotional and behavioural disorders that interfere with the lives and productivity of people.

CODE 12     Intellectual disability

Record if the person has a diagnosed intellectual disability.

CODE 13     Mild cognitive impairment

Record if the person has ever been diagnosed with a mild cognitive impairment.

CODE 14     Diabetes

Record if the person has ever been told by a doctor or nurse that they have diabetes.

Source and reference attributes

NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) (2020). Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/australian-guidelines-reduce-health-risks-drinking-alcohol

Department of Health and Aged Care (2021), Physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra. https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians.

Data element attributes

Source and reference attributes

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Livingston G, Huntley J, Sommerlad A, Ames D, Ballard C, Banerjee S, et al. 2020. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. Lancet. 8;396(10248):413-446. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30367-6.

Relational attributes