The formal care costs of dementia: a longitudinal study using Swedish register data

• Published in: The European journal of health economics Vol. 26; no. 3; pp. 353 - 361
• Main Authors: Zilling, Jennifer, Gerdtham, Ulf-G., Jarl, Johan, Saha, Sanjib, Persson, Sofie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.04.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cost of Illness; Dementia; Dementia - economics; Dementia - therapy; Dementia disorders; Economic Policy; Female; Health Care Costs - statistics & numerical data; Health care expenditures; Health Care Management; Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy; Health Economics; Health Sciences; Health services; Humans; Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi; Hälsovetenskap; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Older people; Original Paper; Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes; Public Finance; Public Health; Registries; Regression analysis; Socioeconomic Factors; Sweden; Sweden; Register data; Formal care; Sweden; Alzheimer’s disease; I1; Excess costs; Dementia
• ISSN: 1618-7598; 1618-7601; 1618-7601
• DOI: 10.1007/s10198-024-01707-w

Background This study investigates the excess costs of dementia from healthcare, social care services, and prescription drugs 3 years before to 6 years after diagnosis. Further, sociodemographic cost differences are explored. Methods Using Swedish register data from 2013 to 2016 to compare individuals diagnosed with dementia (n = 15,339) with population controls, the excess formal care costs for people with a dementia diagnosis are obtained with longitudinal regression analysis. Results People with dementia incur higher formal care costs for all years studied compared to people without dementia. The excess costs vary from €3400 3 years before diagnosis to €49,700 6 years after diagnosis. The costs are mainly driven by institutional care, and solitary living is a strong predictor of high excess costs. Conclusion The results show that the formal care costs of individuals with dementia are substantial, and that the economic burden of dementia in Sweden is larger than previously estimated.