The costs of treating all‐cause dementia among American Indians and Alaska native adults who access services through the Indian Health Service and Tribal health programs

• Main Authors: O'Connell, Joan, Grau, Laura, Goins, Turner, Perraillon, Marcelo, Winchester, Blythe, Corrada, Maria, Manson, Spero M, Jiang, Luohua
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: eScholarship, University of California 2022
• Subjects: Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; Biological Psychology; Clinical Sciences; Neurosciences; Psychology; Brain Disorders; Arctic; Dementia; Aging; American Indian or Alaska Native; Alzheimer's Disease including Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD); Rural Health; Health Services; Clinical Research; Acquired Cognitive Impairment; Neurological; Good Health and Well Being; Adult; Humans; Alaskan Natives; Health Care Costs; Indians; North American; United States; United States Indian Health Service; Health Expenditures; Morbidity; American Indian and Alaska native peoples; disparities; hospital expenditures; morbidity burden; Geriatrics; Alaska
• Online Access: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1qf390p4

IntroductionLittle is known about treatment costs for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults with dementia who access services through the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Tribal health programs.MethodsWe analyzed fiscal year 2013 IHS/Tribal treatment costs for AI/ANs aged 65+ years with dementia and a matched sample without dementia (n=1842) to report actual and adjusted total treatment costs and costs by service type. Adjusted costs were estimated using multivariable regressions.ResultsMean total treatment cost for adults with dementia were $13,027, $5400 higher than for adults without dementia ($7627). The difference in adjusted total treatment costs was $2943 (95% confidence interval [CI]: $1505, $4381), the majority of which was due to the difference in hospital inpatient costs ($2902; 95% CI: $1512, $4293).DiscussionKnowing treatment costs for AI/ANs with dementia can guide enhancements to policies and services for treating dementia and effectively using health resources.