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Ulf Gerdtham. Photo.

Ulf Gerdtham

Professor

Ulf Gerdtham. Photo.

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

Author

  • Jennifer Zilling
  • Ulf-G Gerdtham
  • Johan Jarl
  • Sanjib Saha
  • Sofie Persson

Summary, in English

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.

Department/s

  • Health Economics
  • LU Profile Area: Proactive Ageing
  • EpiHealth: Epidemiology for Health

Publishing year

2025

Language

English

Pages

353-361

Publication/Series

European Journal of Health Economics

Volume

26

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy

Status

Published

Research group

  • Health Economics

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1618-7601