Determinants of costs of care for patients with Alzheimer`s disease
Linus Jönsson, Maria Eriksdottir Jönhagen, Lena Kilander, Hilkka Soininen, Merja Hallikainen, Gunhild Waldemar, Harald Nygaard, Niels Andreasen, Bengt Winblad, Anders Wimo
Bok Svensk 2003
| Utgitt | 2003
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| Omfang | 12 s. + vedl.
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| Opplysninger | Abstract: This study presents data on cocts of care for 272 Alzheimer`s disease (AD) patients and their caregivers in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. Subjects were requited among patients attending regular vivits at six memory clinics. Patients with diagnosis of Ad and with an identifiable primary caregiver were eligible for inclusion. Data was collected by questionnaries at baseline, and at scheduled follow-up visits after 6 month and again after 12 months. Cognitive function was assessed with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and behavioural disturbances were measured using a brief version of the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI). Total annual cocts were on average 172000 SEK, rangign from 60700 SEK in mild dementia to 375000 SEK in severe dementia. Costs for community care ( special accommodation, home help etc)constituted about half of total cocts of care and incrase sharply with increasing cognitive impairment. Informal care costs, valued at the opportunity cost of the caregiver`s time, make up about a third of total costs and also increased significantly with disase severty. Medical care costs (inpatient care, outpatient care, pharmaceuticals), on the other hand, were not significantly related to disese severity. Regression analysis confirmed a strong association between cocts and cognitive function, between patients as well as within patients over time. There was also a significant influence on cocts from behavioural disturbances. The cost estimatees provided by this study can be useful in future economic evaluation of interventions aimed at reducing the progression of AD in the Nordic countries.
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