Estimating the cost of informal caregiving for elderly patients with cancer.

TitleEstimating the cost of informal caregiving for elderly patients with cancer.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2001
AuthorsHayman, JA, Langa, KM, Kabeto, MU, Katz, SJ, DeMonner, SM, Chernew, ME, Slavin, MB, A. Fendrick, M
JournalJ Clin Oncol
Volume19
Issue13
Pagination3219-25
Date Published2001 Jul 01
ISSN Number0732-183X
Call Numberpubs_2001_Hayman_JJClinOnc.pdf
KeywordsActivities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Caregivers, Cost of Illness, Family, Female, Home Nursing, Humans, Male, Multivariate Analysis, Neoplasms, Regression Analysis, United States
Abstract

PURPOSE: As the United States population ages, the increasing prevalence of cancer is likely to result in higher direct medical and nonmedical costs. Although estimates of the associated direct medical costs exist, very little information is available regarding the prevalence, time, and cost associated with informal caregiving for elderly cancer patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: To estimate these costs, we used data from the first wave (1993) of the Asset and Health Dynamics (AHEAD) Study, a nationally representative longitudinal survey of people aged 70 or older. Using a multivariable, two-part regression model to control for differences in health and functional status, social support, and sociodemographics, we estimated the probability of receiving informal care, the average weekly number of caregiving hours, and the average annual caregiving cost per case (assuming an average hourly wage of $8.17) for subjects who reported no history of cancer (NC), having a diagnosis of cancer but not receiving treatment for their cancer in the last year (CNT), and having a diagnosis of cancer and receiving treatment in the last year (CT).

RESULTS: Of the 7,443 subjects surveyed, 6,422 (86%) reported NC, 718 (10%) reported CNT, and 303 (4%) reported CT. Whereas the adjusted probability of informal caregiving for those respondents reporting NC and CNT was 26%, it was 34% for those reporting CT (P <.05). Those subjects reporting CT received an average of 10.0 hours of informal caregiving per week, as compared with 6.9 and 6.8 hours for those who reported NC and CNT, respectively (P <.05). Accordingly, cancer treatment was associated with an incremental increase of 3.1 hours per week, which translates into an additional average yearly cost of $1,200 per patient and just over $1 billion nationally.

CONCLUSION: Informal caregiving costs are substantial and should be considered when estimating the cost of cancer treatment in the elderly.

DOI10.1200/JCO.2001.19.13.3219
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11432889?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Activities of Daily Living/Aged, 80 and Over/Caregivers/Cost of Illness/Family/Psychology/Female/Home Nursing/Economics/Statistics and Numerical Data/Human/Multivariate Analysis/Neoplasms/Complications/Therapy/Regression Analysis/United States

Endnote ID

4250

Alternate JournalJ Clin Oncol
Citation Key6742
PubMed ID11432889
Grant ListU01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States