CS4 - Alzheimer’s Attributable Costs in the United States: A Secondary Analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2011-2015

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and the 5th leading cause of death among people older than 65 years of age. As of 2017, almost 5.5 million people are living with Alzheimer’s dementia. Given such high prevalence and a rapid rise in the incidence rate the Alzheimer’s associated expenditure has been increasing significantly over the years. This study aims to calculate the health care cost attributable to Alzheimer’s disease using household and medical condition files of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), 2011-2015. MEPS datasets were merged for each corresponding year. Propensity score matching technique was used to match control group based on the variables age, sex, race, region, family income, marital status and comorbidity (using Charlson Index). Generalized linear model(GLM) with log link and gamma family was fitted for each year data. Differences between the estimated average cost of Alzheimer’s disease and the non-Alzheimer’s group was calculated to determine cost attributable to Alzheimer’s disease. Using the Medical Care Price Index costs for all year were converted to 2015 dollars to analyze the trend in Alzheimer’s attributable cost. The total cost attributable to Alzheimer’s disease incurred by the nation was calculated using the prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease. The lowest Alzheimer’s attributable cost was reported in 2011 which was 11185$ for a single patient whereas, the highest cost was reported in 2013, 23290$ in 2015 dollars. The lowest national expenditure attributable to Alzheimer’s disease was in 2011 (60 Billion Dollar) and highest expenditure was in 2015 (121.2 billion). The results indicate that Alzheimer’s disease is a potent cost driver of the US healthcare system. This is high time to formulate and implement policies directed towards cost containing strategies to manage Alzheimer’s disease without reducing the quality of care.