Early start of anti-dementia medication is associated with lower health and social care costs in Alzheimer´s patients: a Finnish nationwide register study

Aino Vesikansa (), Olli Halminen, Juha Mehtälä, Iiris Hörhammer, Teija Mikkola, Tero Ylisaukko-oja and Miika Linna
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Aino Vesikansa: MedEngine Oy
Olli Halminen: Aalto University/Health Care, Engineering, Management and architecture (HEMA)
Juha Mehtälä: MedEngine Oy
Iiris Hörhammer: Aalto University/Health Care, Engineering, Management and architecture (HEMA)
Teija Mikkola: Ministry of Finance
Tero Ylisaukko-oja: MedEngine Oy
Miika Linna: Aalto University/Health Care, Engineering, Management and architecture (HEMA)

The European Journal of Health Economics, 2023, vol. 24, issue 9, No 2, 1428 pages

Abstract: Abstract Objectives To evaluate the association between health and social care costs and early start of anti-dementia medication in a nationwide cohort of Finnish Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. Methods The cohort included 7454 Finnish AD patients who had their first AD diagnosis in 2012 and lived at home at the time of diagnosis. Data were collected retrospectively from the Finnish national health and social care registers. The primary outcome was 2-year cumulative direct costs after the incident AD diagnosis. The exploratory variable was early anti-dementia medication start (anti-dementia medication started within 3 months of the incident AD diagnosis). Sociodemographic variables, admission to 24-h care and care intensity level, as well as comorbidities were considered as adjusting variables. Results Of all patients, 88.9% started AD medication within 3 months of diagnosis. The 2-year cumulative costs were €30,787 and €40,484 per patient for early and late starters, respectively. When adjusted for possible confounders, early start of anti-dementia medication was associated with 26.5% lower 2-year cumulative costs compared to late starters (relative cost 0.735; p

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Costs; Medication; Healthcare; Social care; Institutionalization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H51 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s10198-022-01553-8

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