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INTRODUCTION: We investigated whether mortality in memory clinic patients changed due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. METHODS: We included patients from the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort: (1) n = 923 pandemic patients (baseline visit: 2017–2018, follow‐up: until 2021), and (2) n = 830 historical control patients (baseline visit: 2015–2016, follow‐up: until 2019). Groups were well‐balanced. We compared mortality during pandemic with historical control patients using Cox regression. Differences in cause of death between groups were explored using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Pandemic patients had a higher risk of mortality than historical control patients (hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval {CI}] = 1.34 [1.05–1.70]). Stratified for syndrome diagnosis, the effect remained significant in dementia patients (HR [95% CI] = 1.35 [1.03–1.78]). Excluding patients who died of COVID‐19‐infection, the higher mortality risk in pandemic patients attenuated (HR [95% CI] = 1.24 [0.97–1.58]). Only the difference in cause of death between pandemic patients and historical control patients for death to COVID‐19‐infection (p = 0.001) was observed. CONCLUSION: Memory clinic patients had increased mortality risk during COVID‐19 compared to historical control patients, attributable to dementia patients. Highlights: We investigated if mortality rates in memory clinic patients changed due to COVID‐19 pandemic.We included patients along the cognitive continuum, including SCD, MCI, and dementia.We used a well‐balanced historical control group.Memory clinic patients had higher risk for mortality during COVID‐19 lockdown.Our results indicate that excess mortality is mainly caused by death to COVID‐19 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We investigated whether mortality in memory clinic patients changed due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic., Methods: We included patients from the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort: (1) n  = 923 pandemic patients (baseline visit: 2017-2018, follow-up: until 2021), and (2) n  = 830 historical control patients (baseline visit: 2015-2016, follow-up: until 2019). Groups were well-balanced. We compared mortality during pandemic with historical control patients using Cox regression. Differences in cause of death between groups were explored using Fisher's exact test., Results: Pandemic patients had a higher risk of mortality than historical control patients (hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval {CI}] = 1.34 [1.05-1.70]). Stratified for syndrome diagnosis, the effect remained significant in dementia patients (HR [95% CI] = 1.35 [1.03-1.78]). Excluding patients who died of COVID-19-infection, the higher mortality risk in pandemic patients attenuated (HR [95% CI] = 1.24 [0.97-1.58]). Only the difference in cause of death between pandemic patients and historical control patients for death to COVID-19-infection ( p  = 0.001) was observed., Conclusion: Memory clinic patients had increased mortality risk during COVID-19 compared to historical control patients, attributable to dementia patients., Highlights: We investigated if mortality rates in memory clinic patients changed due to COVID-19 pandemic.We included patients along the cognitive continuum, including SCD, MCI, and dementia.We used a well-balanced historical control group.Memory clinic patients had higher risk for mortality during COVID-19 lockdown.Our results indicate that excess mortality is mainly caused by death to COVID-19 infection., Competing Interests: Research programs of W.M.F. have been funded by ZonMW, NWO, EU‐FP7, EU‐JPND, Alzheimer Nederland, CardioVascular Onderzoek Nederland, Health∼Holland, Topsector Life Sciences & Health, stichting Dioraphte, Gieskes‐Strijbis fonds, stichting Equilibrio, Pasman Stichting, Biogen MA Inc, Boehringer Ingelheim, Life‐ MI, AVID, Roche BV, Fujifilm, Combinostics. W.M.F. is consultant to Oxford Health Policy Forum CIC, Roche, and Biogen MA Inc. W.M.F. has been an invited speaker at Boehringer Ingelheim, Biogen MA Inc, Danone, Eisai, WebMD Neurology (Medscape). All funding is paid to her institution. W.M.F. participated in an advisory board of Biogen MA Inc. W.M.F. is associate editor at Brain. I.S.M. received a consultancy fee (paid to the university) from Roche. F.H.B. received Optina diagnostics payments and roche, biogen payments to her institution. Y.A.L.P. has received funding from the Dutch Brain Foundation and the Mooiste Contact Fonds (both paid to her institution). The other authors report no financial disclosures or conflicts of interest. The sponsors had no involvement in the study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Author disclosures are available in the Supporting Information., (© 2024 The Authors. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.)