Healthcare costs of dementia diseases before, during and after diagnosis: Longitudinal analysis of 17 years of Swedish register data. Issue 12 (21st February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Persson, Sofie; Saha, Sanjib; Gerdtham, Ulf‐G.; Toresson, Håkan; Trépel, Dominic; Jarl, Johan
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 18:Issue 12(2022)
• Page Start: 2560
• Page End: 2569
• Publication Date: 2022-02-21
• Subjects: Alzheimer´s disease -- dementia -- diagnosis -- health‐care costs -- Sweden; Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; Alzheimer Disease -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; Démence; Maladie d'Alzheimer; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.83
• DOI: 10.1002/alz.12619
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5260

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: This study examines health‐care costs attributed to dementia diseases in the 10 years prior to, during, and 6 years after diagnosis. Methods: Using administrative register data for people diagnosed with dementia (2010–2016) in southern Sweden (n = 21, 184), and a comparison group without dementia, health‐care costs over 17 years were examined using longitudinal regression analysis. Results: Average annual health‐care costs per person were consistently higher before diagnosis in the dementia group (10 years before: Swedish krona (SEK) 2063, P < .005 and 1 year before: SEK8166, P < .005). At diagnosis, health‐care costs were more than twice as high (SEK44, 410, P < .005). Four to 6 years after diagnosis, there was no significant different in costs compared to comparators. Discussion: Excess health‐care cost arise as early as 10 years before a formal diagnosis of dementia, and while there is a spike in cost after diagnosis, health‐care costs are no different 4 years after. These findings question currently accepted assumptions on costs of dementia.