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

Author

Listed:
  • Jennifer Zilling

    (Lund University)

  • Ulf-G. Gerdtham

    (Lund University
    Lund University
    Lund University)

  • Johan Jarl

    (Lund University)

  • Sanjib Saha

    (Lund University)

  • Sofie Persson

    (Lund University
    The Swedish Institute for Health Economics)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer Zilling & Ulf-G. Gerdtham & Johan Jarl & Sanjib Saha & Sofie Persson, 2025. "The formal care costs of dementia: a longitudinal study using Swedish register data," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 26(3), pages 353-361, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujhec:v:26:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s10198-024-01707-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s10198-024-01707-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anders Wimo & Katrin Seeher & Rodrigo Cataldi & Eva Cyhlarova & Joseph L Dielemann & Oskar Frisell & Maëlenn Guerchet & Linus Jönsson & Angeladine Kenne Malaha & Emma Nichols & Paola Pedroza & Martin , 2023. "The worldwide costs of dementia in 2019," Post-Print ird-03944615, HAL.
    2. Bernhard Michalowsky & Steffen Flessa & Tilly Eichler & Johannes Hertel & Adina Dreier & Ina Zwingmann & Diana Wucherer & Henriette Rau & Jochen René Thyrian & Wolfgang Hoffmann, 2018. "Healthcare utilization and costs in primary care patients with dementia: baseline results of the DelpHi-trial," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 19(1), pages 87-102, January.
    3. Daniel A Hojman & Fabian Duarte & Jaime Ruiz-Tagle & Marilu Budnich & Carolina Delgado & Andrea Slachevsky, 2017. "The cost of dementia in an unequal country: The case of Chile," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(3), pages 1-17, March.
    4. Iva Holmerová & Jakub Hort & Robert Rusina & Anders Wimo & Michal Šteffl, 2017. "Costs of dementia in the Czech Republic," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 18(8), pages 979-986, November.
    5. Wimo, Anders & Seeher, Katrin & Cataldi, Rodrigo & Cyhlarova, Eva & Dielemann, Joseph L. & Frisell, Oskar & Guerchet, Maëlenn & Jönsson, Linus & Malaha, Angeladine Kenne & Nichols, Emma & Pedroza, Pao, 2023. "The worldwide costs of dementia in 2019," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118062, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Excess costs; Formal care; Dementia; Alzheimer’s disease; Register data; Sweden;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health

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