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The use and costs of formal care in newly diagnosed dementia: A three-year prospective follow-up study

Authors

Vossius, Corinna, Rongve, Arvid, Testad, Ingelin, Wimo, Anders, Aarsland, Dag

Journal

The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Volume: 22, No.: 4, Pages.: 381-388

Year of Publication

2014

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the use of formal care during the first three years after diagnosis of mild dementia and identify cost-predicting factors. Design: Prospective longitudinal study over three years. Setting: An incidence-based bottom–up cost-of-illness study where information about formal health care services was drawn from the municipalities’ registers during the first three years after the diagnosis of mild dementia. Participants: 109 patients with mild dementia at baseline, diagnosed according to consensus criteria based on standardized assessments. Measurement: The use of formal care as registered by the municipalities’ registration systems. Costs were estimated by applying unit costs, including municipal expenses and out-of-pocket contributions. Clinical data were collected at baseline to identify cost-predicting factors. Results: Costs for formal care were increasing from € 535 per month of survival (MOS) at baseline to € 3,611 per MOS during the third year, with a mean of € 2,420 during the whole observation period. The major cost driver (74%) was institutional care. The costs for people with dementia with Lewy bodies (€ 3,247 per MOS) were significantly higher than for people with Alzheimer disease (€ 1,855 per MOS). The most important cost-predicting factors we identified were the living situation, a diagnosis of non-Alzheimer disease, comorbidity, and daily living functioning. The use of cholinesterase inhibitors was related to lower costs. Conclusion: Formal care costs increased significantly over time with institutional care being the heaviest cost driver. Studies with longer observation periods will be necessary to evaluate the complete socioeconomic impact of the course of dementia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved). (journal abstract)

Bibtex Citation

@article{Vossius_2014, doi = {10.1016/j.jagp.2012.08.014}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2012.08.014}, year = 2014, month = {apr}, publisher = {Elsevier {BV}}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {381--388}, author = {Corinna Vossius and Arvid Rongve and Ingelin Testad and Anders Wimo and Dag Aarsland}, title = {The Use and Costs of Formal Care in Newly Diagnosed Dementia: A Three-Year Prospective Follow-Up Study}, journal = {The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry} }

Keywords

dementia, diagnosis, formal care, health care costs, health care services

Countries of Study

Norway

Types of Dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia (general / unspecified), Lewy-Body

Types of Study

Cohort Study, Cost and service use study

Type of Outcomes

Service use or cost reductions (incl. hospital use reduction, care home admission delay)

Type of Interventions

Non-pharmacological Treatment, Pharmaceutical Interventions

Pharmaceutical Interventions

Anti-Alzheimer medications, e.g.: donezepil, galantamine, rivastigmine, memantime