Meek P D, McKeithan K, Schumock G T
School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin at Madison, 53706-1515, USA.
Pharmacotherapy. 1998 Mar-Apr;18(2 Pt 2):68-73; discussion 79-82.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the third most expensive disease in the United States, costing society approximately $100 billion each year. It is one of the most prevalent illnesses in the elderly population, and with the aging of society, will become even more significant. Costs associated with AD include direct medical costs such as nursing home care, direct nonmedical costs such as in-home day care, and indirect costs such as lost patient and caregiver productivity. Medical treatment may have economic benefits by slowing the rate of cognitive decline, delaying institutionalization, reducing caregiver hours, and improving quality of life. Pharmacoeconomic evaluations have shown positive results regarding the effect of drug therapy on nursing home placement, cognition, and caregiver time.
阿尔茨海默病（AD）是美国第三大高成本疾病，每年给社会造成约1000亿美元的损失。它是老年人群中最常见的疾病之一，随着社会老龄化，其影响将更加显著。与AD相关的成本包括直接医疗成本（如养老院护理）、直接非医疗成本（如家庭日间护理）以及间接成本（如患者和护理人员生产力损失）。医学治疗可能通过减缓认知衰退速度、推迟机构化、减少护理人员工作时间以及提高生活质量而带来经济效益。药物经济学评估已显示药物治疗在养老院安置、认知和护理人员时间方面的效果具有积极结果。
