Specific populations may have a health service utilization profile that differs from the general population, and, not surprisingly, in higher-level socioeconomic geographic areas, the out-of-pocket, expenses on health services are higher than in a poorer area. Also, some studies employ a control group, while others do not. Having or not a control group of nondemented elderly helps account for the cost associated with other comorbid, age-related diseases, hence highlighting the costs specifically related to AD. Even when studies survey similar populations for similar period of times, there are still large discrepancies between results of the studies

related to the components that are included in the calculations and summation of the total cost of AD. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical For example, one study included as direct, cost, fees for the general practitioner and as indirect cost lost years of productive life. On the other hand, in the same study, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical the indirect economic burden imposed on family members was not included.9 In contrast, very detailed direct and indirect care costs were estimated in a study carried out in the US,3 but this http://www.selleckchem.com/products/bix-01294.html analysis did not include the cost of the productive years lost because of Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical the illness. Not only the components included in calculating the total cost of illness differ between studies, but also the definition of each component. For example, it is not easy to decide

whether a particular activity constitutes Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical spending leisure time with a sick spouse or should be considered an effort related to the patient’s care and therefore part of the indirect cost. Is watching a TV program with a patient, who, if left alone, will leave the house, get lost,

and maybe harm him- or herself in the process, leisure or supervision? Finally, even if the methodologies are impeccable, the components of cost, utilized to come up with a total cost identical, and the definition-of-cost components identical between studies, comparison between studies conducted in different countries can only be interpreted if considered relatively to the average wage or acquisition power of the citizens of the respective country. Other types Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical much of cost analysis Although cost-of-illness studies are important, by themselves and serve as basis for social and health care policy debate, they do not enable alternatives to be assessed. Studies that assess alternatives are called cost-effectiveness analyses, cost-benefit analyses, cost-minimization analyses, and cost-utility analyses, and are summarized in Table III. The goal of these analyses is to find the alternative that provides the best care for the lowest cost, or even better, describes the optimal balance between benefits and costs.10 For example, results of a study evaluating cost effectiveness of day care for patients with dementia indicated that it was less expensive to pay for day care than to incur the indirect, informal and formal, cost associated with keeping the patient at home.11 Table III Type of cost analysis.