Cost-of-illness study in a retrospective cohort of patients with dementia in Lima, Peru

Abstract

Dementia is a major cause of dependency and disability among older persons, and imposes huge economic burdens. Only a few cost-of-illness studies for dementia have been carried out in middle and low-income countries.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to analyze costs of dementia in demented patients of a private clinic in Lima, Peru.Methods.We performed a retrospective, cohort, 3-month study by extracting information from medical records of demented patients to assess the use of both healthcare and non-healthcare resources. The total costs of the disease were broken down into direct (medical and social care costs) and indirect costs (informal care costs).Results.In 136 outpatients, we observed that while half of non-demented patients had total care costs of less than US$ 23 over three months, demented patients had costs of US$ 1500 or over (and more than US$ 1860 for frontotemporal dementia). In our study, the monthly cost of a demented patient (US$ 570) was 2.5 times higher than the minimum wage (legal minimum monthly wage in Peru for 2011: US$ 222.22).Conclusion.Dementia constitutes a socioeconomic problem even in developing countries, since patients involve high healthcare and non-healthcare costs, with the costs being especially high for the patient's family.

Effects of COVID-19 on Informal Caregivers and the Development and Validation of a Scale in English and Spanish to Measure the Impact of COVID-19 on Caregivers

“…Long-term care systems in LAC are still under construction and health and social services are fragmented, poorly coordinated, and in many cases without universal coverage (Custodio et al, 2014). In these countries, high out-of-pocket costs have been reported for families for the care of elderly people with dementia (Custodio et al, 2015). Likewise, a high level of stress and little perception of self-efficacy of caregivers to carry out their tasks during the pandemic have been reported (Navarrete-Mejía et al, 2020).…”

The cost of dementia in an unequal country: The case of Chile

“…In another study for Brazil, it was reported that direct costs of dementia are equal to 66 per cent of family income (approximately US $300 in their sample) [ 37 ]. On the other hand, in Peru, for 106 patients attending a private clinic, the cost was estimated at US$ 6,844 per year [ 38 ]. Liu (2013, unpublished) [ 35 ], reported a higher cost in people of the public level (US$ 6,750) compared to the private level (US$ 1,887), both costs calculated at international dollars [ 26 ].…”

Dementia in Latin America: Epidemiological Evidence and Implications for Public Policy

“…Costs also differ depending on the type of dementia (US$ 5112 for VD, US$ 4625 for AD and US$ 4,924 for FTD). In Peru, Custodio et al ( 2015 ), using a sample of 136 outpatients receiving care at a private clinic, reported an average cost of US$ 1500 per trimester for AD, US$ 1860 for FTD and US$ 1291 for VD. These costs are significantly greater than those of patients without dementia (US$ 230).…”