The annual consumption and costs of the health care resources used by ambulatory Alzheimer's disease patients in Spain

BACKGROUND: The annual consumption and costs of the health care resources u sed by ambulatory Alzheimer's disease patients were estimated. Patients wer e classified according to the degree of severity of the disease using Folst ein's Mini Mental State Examination scale, The sociodemographic characteris tics of both patients and their careers were described, PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with an established diagnosis of Azlheimers disease according to NINCDS/ADRDA criteria were included in the study. Info rmation on the use of health and nonhealth care resources consumed during t he last 12 months was recorded. The following scales were administered: MMS E, Global Deterioration Scale, Rapid Disability Rating Scale and Hachinski' s scale modified by Rosen. Finally, the time dedicated by careers to look a fter the Alzheimer's disease patients was recorded. RESULTS: A total of 337 patients were considered to be valid for the analys is with an average of 72 (8.4) years and with an average duration of the di sease of 48.3 (35.7) months. The average annual cost per patient was 3,194, 664 ptas. The average cost per patient in the group with MMSE > 18 was 2,11 9,889 ptas; 2,723,159 ptas, in those with MMSE 12-18 and 3,676,707 ptas. in the MMSE < 12 group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with Alzheimer's disease an increase in cost direc tly related to functional cognition state was observed. The most important cost component was that imputed to value time dedicated by principal career .