Estimación del coste para las familias de la enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias

Abstract

The diseases associated with aging, such as Alzheimer's and other dementias, have a growing social and economic impact for society, which is taken mainly by the family. The aim of our study was to estimate the cost supported by families with Alzheimer's patient or other dementia. From the data obtained from a questionnaire for primary caregivers of Alzheimer's or other dementias, we calculated the direct costs incurred by the family, while for the estimation of indirect costs (informal care) is used the value of replacement by external services (professional or not). The sampling procedure was selective non-probability sampling. Families endure, on average, 68% of direct costs (6,094 euros/year) and total indirect costs (20,055 euros/year, in the case of non-professional services, and 41,737 euros/year, if professional services). Both, direct and indirect costs, increase with disease progression (R2=0.98). The first, of 2338.9 euros/year (mild), rising to more than 10,000 (severe), on average; the latter, in the first stage, from 15,762 euros/year (mild), would then 24,309 euros/year (severe). With different methodology, the results are similar to other studies, though, it shows the overhead of a patient with dementia for the family and their need for support it and, finally, the high correlation between the cost and the stage of disease.