The costs of Alzheimer's disease treatment: the rationale of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors use?
Sobów, T.M.; Kłoszewska, I.
Psychiatria Polska 33(5): 761-767
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-2674 PMID: 10761441 Document Number: 7766
The economic research to date on Alzheimer disease (AD) is presented. We focused on estimates of the costs of AD and on economic evaluations of the most effective interventions in the disease available nowadays - the use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (ACHE). Costs associated with AD include direct medical costs such as nursing home care, direct nonmedical costs such as in-borne day care, and indirect costs such as patient and caregiver productivity loss. Medical treatment may have economic benefits by slowing the rate of cognitive decline, delaying institutionalization, reducing caregiving 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. The rationale for the use of ACHE and refundation issues in Polish health care system reality are discussed.
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