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Economic Considerations in Alzheimer's Disease
Author(s) -
Meek Patrick D.,
McKeithan E. Kristin,
Schumock Glen T.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1002/j.1875-9114.1998.tb03880.x
Subject(s) - dementia , institutionalisation , caregiver burden , medicine , productivity , indirect costs , disease , medical costs , quality of life (healthcare) , gerontology , population ageing , population , economic cost , activity based costing , nursing homes , cognition , psychiatry , nursing , business , health care , environmental health , economic growth , economics , accounting , pathology , neoclassical economics , marketing
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the third most expensive disease in the United States, costing society approximately $100 billion each year. It is one of the most prevalent illnesses in the elderly population, and with the aging of society, will become even more significant. Costs associated with AD include direct medical costs such as nursing home care, direct nonmedical costs such as in‐home day care, and indirect costs such as lost patient and caregiver productivity. Medical treatment may have economic benefits by slowing the rate of cognitive decline, delaying institutionalization, reducing caregiver hours, and improving quality of life. Pharmacoeconomic evaluations have shown positive results regarding the effect of drug therapy on nursing home placement, cognition, and caregiver time.