Cost of diagnosing and treating cognitive complaints: One-year cost-evaluation study in a patient cohort from a Slovenian memory clinic

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

article

Eva Županič¹  Anders Wimo³  Bengt Winblad⁴  Milica Gregorič Kramberger¹ 

[1] University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Department of Neurology;University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine;Centre for Research & Development, Uppsala University/County of Gävleborg;Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of neurogeriatrics;Karolinska University Hospital

关键词: cognitive impairments;    dementia;    costs of illness;   

DOI  :  10.2478/sjph-2022-0011

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Walter de Gruyter GmbH

【 摘 要 】

Introduction Dementias present a global health challenge and give rise to significant economic costs. This study aims to evaluate the economic impact of one-year outpatient healthcare, nursing home, and formal and informal home help costs for all patients referred to the Centre for Cognitive Impairments at the Department of Neurology, Ljubljana University Medical Centre, Slovenia. Methods Data was acquired retrospectively from physicians’ records and the costs for 2015 were calculated. Total costs were estimated by means of a bottom-up calculation of outpatient visits, diagnostic examinations and anti-dementia medication. In a subgroup of 120 patients with dementia, the Resource Utilization in Dementia questionnaire was used to estimate formal and informal care costs.Results A total of 720 patients visited the memory clinic in 2015. Diagnosis at first visit was subjective cognitive or mild cognitive impairment (SCI/ MCI) for 322 patients, dementia for 258 patients, and psychiatric or other disorders for 140 patients. The average annual cost per patient was EUR 578. It was highest for patients with dementia (EUR 751), EUR 550 for patients with SCI/MCI, and lowest for patients with psychiatric and other disorders (EUR 324). Monthly informal and social care costs were between EUR 1,037 and EUR 3,369, depending on the methodology used.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC-ND