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Report: Alzheimer’s disease disclosure rate ‘disturbingly low’
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Forty-five percent of patients with Alzheimer’s disease or their caregivers are informed of the diagnosis by their clinician, according to a press release issued by the Alzheimer’s Association.
The data were derived from the 2015 Facts and Figures report, which highlighted disease prevalence, incidence, mortality, costs and financial impact.
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease or their caregivers also reported that they were given the diagnosis by a clinician after disease advancement, according to the press release.
“These disturbingly low disclosure rates in Alzheimer’s disease are reminiscent of rates seen for cancer in the 1950s and 60s, when even mention of the word ‘cancer’ was taboo,” Beth Kallmyer, MSW, Vice President of Constituent Services for the Alzheimer’s Association, said in the release.
The report estimates that 5.3 million Americans will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2015, including 5.1 million aged 65 years and older, and approximately 200,000 patients aged younger than 65 years with younger-onset Alzheimer’s, according to the press release. It also estimates that the prevalence will rise to 13.8 million by 2050.
The report also estimates that 2015 payments for caring for patients with the disease and other dementias will total $226 billion; $153 billion is the cost of the disease to Medicare and Medicaid only, according to the release.
Other payments, including health care, long-term care and hospice are expected to increase above $1 trillion in 2050, according to the release.