What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to explore the timing of dementia risk in relation to coronary heart disease diagnosis.

April 18, 2026Open Access

Dementia Risk in the Decade Before and After Coronary Heart Disease Diagnosis: Hybrid Case–Control and Cohort Study

Key Result

Dementia risk begins rising a decade before coronary heart disease diagnosis (OR 1.30), nearly doubles in the year prior (OR 1.91), and remains elevated after diagnosis (HR 1.52).

Key Points

This research aims to explore the timing of dementia risk in relation to coronary heart disease diagnosis.
Analyzed UK Biobank data including 59,716 incident CHD cases and 144,595 matched controls.
Utilized conditional logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression to assess dementia-risk associations.
Examined data over a decade before and after CHD diagnosis.
Found a significantly elevated dementia risk of 1.30 before CHD diagnosis.
Increased nearly 2-fold in the year leading up to diagnosis (OR 1.91).
Post-diagnosis risk remained high, with a median follow-up showing an HR of 1.52.

Structured PICO

Is incident coronary heart disease associated with an increased risk of dementia in the decade before and after diagnosis?

Population

204,311 participants from the UK Biobank, comprising 59,716 incident coronary heart disease (CHD) cases and 144,595 matched controls.

Intervention

Incident coronary heart disease (exposure)

Comparator

Matched controls without coronary heart disease

Outcome

Incident dementia over the decade preceding CHD diagnosis and in the period following diagnosishard clinical

Dementia risk begins to rise up to a decade before a clinical diagnosis of coronary heart disease and remains elevated afterward, highlighting a shared preclinical phase and potential window for preventive interventions.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

Background: Although coronary heart disease (CHD) is associated with increased dementia risk, the temporal dynamics of this risk relative to CHD diagnosis remain unclear. Methods: By using UK Biobank data, we conducted a combined case–control and cohort study including 59 716 incident CHD cases and 144 595 matched controls. Conditional logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were employed to assess the associations between incident dementia and CHD over the decade preceding CHD diagnosis and in the period following diagnosis until the end of follow‐up. Results: During the 10 years preceding CHD diagnosis, 364 (0.61%) patients with CHD and 691 (0.48%) controls developed dementia, corresponding to a significantly elevated risk (odds ratio OR, 1.30 95% CI 1.14–1.48) that demonstrated an incremental increase with the proximity of CHD diagnosis. Notably, within the year before CHD diagnosis, 111 (0.19%) patients with CHD and 140 (0.10%) controls developed dementia, resulting in a nearly 2‐fold increase in risk among patients with CHD (OR, 1.91 95% CI, 1.48–2.47). After diagnosis, patients with CHD had an elevated dementia risk over a median 8.5‐year follow‐up (hazard ratio HR, 1.52 95% CI, 1.44–1.61). Conclusions: Dementia risk begins rising at least a decade before CHD diagnosis, peaking near the time of clinical diagnosis. These findings underscore a critical preclinical phase during which preventive interventions may mitigate subsequent neurodegenerative outcomes.