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Cost of dementia 57% greater than other diseases in final years of life

Compared with costs associated with heart disease, cancer or other causes, patients with dementia face the largest health care expenditures, totaling more than $287,000 in the last 5 years of life, according to recently published data.

“Health care expenditures among persons with dementia were substantially larger than those for other diseases, and many of the expenses were uncovered (uninsured). This places a large financial burden on families, and these burdens are particularly pronounced among the demographic groups that are least prepared for financial risk,” Amy S. Kelley, MD, MSHS, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, and colleagues wrote. 

Kelley and colleagues analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to assess the social costs and financial risks faced by Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries in the 5 years prior to death.

Results demonstrated that on average, the cost per decedent was $175,136 among those who died from heart disease, $173,383 among those who died from cancer and $197,286 among those who died from other causes. The average cost faced by patients with dementia was $287,038.

Average Medicare expenditures were similar among all four cohorts.

Out-of-pocket costs were 81% higher among patients with dementia, compared with patients without dementia ($61,522 vs. $34,068), according to the researchers.

Those with less than a high school education, black people and unmarried or widowed women faced the highest financial burdens from dementia.

The researchers noted future Medicare policy discussions should include recognition of the financial risks incurred by the aging population, and how reform could aid in the burdens facing beneficiaries and their families.

“This complex analysis lays out significant health care costs to society and individuals in the last five years of life. It provides an important picture of the risks that families face, particularly those with dementia and those who may be least able to bear major financial risk. Such insights are critically important as we examine how best to support the aging of the U.S. population,” Richard J. Hodes, MD, NIH director, said in a press release.  – by Casey Hower

Disclosures: Kelley reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.