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


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Figure 1

Changes in diagnostic groups from first to last visit.
Changes in diagnostic groups from first to last visit.

Sensitivity analysis of informal and social care costs in patients with and without dementia.

Patients with dementia (n=120) Patients without dementia (n=92) Difference
ADLs (hours/month) 118 77 41
Replacement costs EUR 2,028 (1,728–2,327) EUR 1,312 (978–1,646) EUR 716
ADLs and supervision (hours/month) 188 102 86
Opportunity costs EUR 1,392 (1,169–1,617) EUR 790 (560–1,019) EUR 602
Replacement costs EUR 3,173 (2,663–363) EUR 1,798 (1,275–2,322) EUR 1,375
Home help costs (EUR/month) EUR 53 (21–85) EUR 60 (23–98) /
Nursing home costs (EUR/month) EUR 114 (69–158) EUR 15 (-37–66) EUR 99
Total costs with informal care ADL replacement costs (EUR/month) EUR 2,174 (1,873–2,475) EUR 1,392 (1,056–1,723) EUR 782
Total costs with informal care ADL and supervision opportunity costs (EUR/month) EUR 1,495 (1,265–1,726) EUR 872 (635–1,108) EUR 623
Total costs with informal care ADL and supervision replacement costs (EUR/month) EUR 3,369 (2,856–3,880) EUR 1,895 (1,370–2,420) EUR 1474

Demographics, comorbidities, cognitive status and medication of patients at the Centre for Cognitive Impairments.

All patients (n=720) SCI and MCI (n=322) Dementias (n=258) Psychiatric disorders and other dg. (n=140) p-value
Age, mean (SD) 73 (13) 72 (10) 80 (8) 61 (15) <0.001*
Women, n (%) 427 (59.3) 189 (58.7) 149 (57.8) 89 (63.6) 0.506
Employed 47 (6.5) 19 (5.9) 3 (1.2) 25 (17.9) <0.001
Residency
    living alone 114 (23.4) 58 (27.5) 46 (22.2) 10 (14.3)
    with a partner or caregiver 363 (74.4) 148 (70.1) 156 (75.4) 59 (84.3) 0.199***
    nursing home/institution 11 (2.3) 5 (2.4) 5 (2.4) 1 (1.4)
MMSE, median (IQR) 27 (4) 28 (4) 22 (6) 28 (5) <0.001**
MMSE 0-10 7 (1.5) 0 7 (3.1) 0 0.024***
MMSE 11-20 98 (20.3) 11 (5.0) 81 (36.3) 6 (14.6) <0.001
MMSE 21-30 377 (78.2) 207 (95.0) 135 (60.5) 35 (85.4) <0.001
MoCA, median (IQR) 22 (7) 24 (6) 18 (6) 25 (4) <0.001**
Antidementives 348 (48.3) 91 (28.3) 237 (91.9) 20 (14.3) <0.001
    Memantine 100 (13.9) 19 (5.9) 77 (29.8) 4 (2.9) <0.001
    ChEIs 293 (40.7) 77 (23.9) 200 (77.5) 16 (11.4) <0.001
        Rivastigmine 181 (25.1) 36 (11.2) 136 (52.7) 9 (6.4) <0.001
        Galantamine 45 (6.3) 12 (3.7) 30 (11.6) 3 (2.1) <0.001
        Donepezil 95 (13.2) 36 (11.2) 52 (20.2) 7 (5.0) <0.001
Antidepressants 372 (51.7) 152 (47.2) 131 (50.8) 89 (63.6) 0.005
First visit in 2015 374 (51.9) 181 (56.2) 109 (42.2) 84 (60.0) 0.001
Total number of imaging/ neurophysiological examinations (CT, MRI, FDG-PET, DaT scan, EEG) 723 (100) 317 (43.8) 282 (39.0) 124 (17.2) /

Costs of diagnostic procedures and treatment performed in 2015.

Unit costs (EUR) 2015 All patients (n=720)
SCI and MCI (n=321)
Dementias (n=259)
Psychiatric and other dg. (n=140)
No of ptn Costs (EUR) No of ptn Costs (EUR) No of ptn Costs (EUR) No of ptn Costs (EUR)
First visit 17.3 374 6,470 181 3,131 109 1,886 84 1,453
Follow-up visits 8.65 514 4,446 214 1,851 198 1,713 102 882
Basic blood panel 34.46 374 12,888 181 6,237 109 3,756 84 2,895
Vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine 41.53 374 15,532 181 7,517 109 4,527 84 3,489
Thyroid function (TSH, T4, T3) 20.14 374 7,532 181 3,645 109 2,195 84 1,692
MRI 250.72 108 27,078 61 15,294 28 7,020 19 4,764
CT 88.97 28 2,491 7 623 16 1,424 5 445
LP 1,499.69 61 91,481 37 55,489 20 29,994 4 5,999
Neuropsychological examination 230.01 94 21,621 65 14,951 17 3,910 12 2,760
FDG-PET 928.67 32 29,717 20 18,573 8 7,429 4 3,715
DaT scan 1,235.31 13 16,059 3 3,706 4 4,941 6 7,412
EEG 49.33 49 2,417 21 1,036 15 740 13 641
Dg. – cost per group (EUR) 237,733 132,053 69,535 36,146
Dg. – cost per person (EUR) 330 412 268 258
Anti-dementia treatment/month ChEI 40.8 293 143,453 77 37,699 200 97,920 16 7,834
Memantine 29.3 100 35,160 19 6,680 77 27,073 4 1,406
Med. – cost per group (EUR) 178,613 44,380 124,993 9,240
Med. – cost per person (EUR) 248 138 483 66
All – cost per group (EUR) 416,346 176,433 194,528 45,386
All – cost per person (EUR) 578 550 751 324

Informal and social care monthly costs in patients with and without dementia.

Patients with dementia (n=120) Patients without dementia (n=92) p-value
Age, median (IQR) 81 (10) 81 (9) 0.580
Women, n (%) 73 (60.8) 63 (68.5) 0.250a
Number of caregivers, median (IQR) 2 (4) 2 (4) 0.840
Type of help and costs Difference
Informal care: ADLs (hours/month) 118 77 41
Informal care: opportunity cost (EUR/month (95% CI)) EUR 894 (725–1103) EUR 561 (445–707) EUR 333
Home help (hours/month) 3.1 3.6 -0.5
Home help costs (EUR/month; (95% CI))* EUR 53 (21–85) EUR 60 (23–98) -EUR 7
Nursing home placement, n (%) 17 (14.2%) 3 (3.3%)
Nursing home cost (EUR/month (95% CI))* EUR 114 (69–158) EUR 15 (-37–66) EUR 99
Total costs: opportunity cost (95% CI)** EUR 1,037 (897–1177) EUR 656 (500–812) EUR 381

Different diagnostic pathways and their costs when a cognitive disorder is suspected.

Diagnostic packages Costs (EUR) for 2021
Exam + lab + CT 207
Exam + lab + MRI 365
Exam + lab + MRI + NP 622
Exam + lab + MRI + LP 2,922
Exam + lab + MRI + FDG-PET 1,296
Exam + lab + MRI + LP + FDG-PET 1,553
Exam + lab + MRI + NP + LP 3,179
Exam + lab + MRI + NP + FDG-PET 3,853
Exam + lab + MRI + NP + LP + FDG-PET 4,110
eISSN:
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Language:
English
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Journal Subjects:
Medicine, Clinical Medicine, Hygiene and Environmental Medicine