Castro Diego M, Dillon Carol, Machnicki Gerardo, Allegri Ricardo F
MD, Servicios de Neuropsicología (SIREN) y Neurología, Instituto Universitario CEMIC, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
MD, Laboratorio de Memoria, Servicio de Neurología, Hospital General Abel Zubizarreta, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dement Neuropsychol. 2010 Oct-Dec;4(4):262-267. doi: 10.1590/S1980-57642010DN40400003.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients suffer progressive cognitive, behavioral and functional impairment which result in a heavy burden to patients, families, and the public-health system. AD entails both direct and indirect costs. Indirect costs (such as loss or reduction of income by the patient or family members) are the most important costs in early and community-dwelling AD patients. Direct costs (such as medical treatment or social services) increase when the disorder progresses, and the patient is institutionalized or a formal caregiver is required. Drug therapies represent an increase in direct cost but can reduce some other direct or indirect costs involved. Several studies have projected overall savings to society when using drug therapies and all relevant cost are considered, where results depend on specific patient and care setting characteristics. Dementia should be the focus of analysis when public health policies are being devised. South American countries should strengthen their policy and planning capabilities by gathering more local evidence about the burden of AD and how it can be shaped by treatment options.
阿尔茨海默病（AD）患者会出现进行性认知、行为和功能障碍，这给患者、家庭和公共卫生系统带来了沉重负担。AD产生直接和间接成本。间接成本（如患者或家庭成员的收入损失或减少）是早期和社区居住的AD患者最重要的成本。当病情进展，患者需要住院或需要正式护理人员时，直接成本（如医疗治疗或社会服务）会增加。药物治疗会使直接成本增加，但可以减少一些其他相关的直接或间接成本。当考虑使用药物治疗和所有相关成本时，多项研究预计会给社会带来总体节省，其结果取决于特定的患者和护理环境特征。在制定公共卫生政策时，痴呆症应成为分析的重点。南美国家应通过收集更多关于AD负担以及治疗选择如何影响AD负担的本地证据，来加强其政策和规划能力。
