Humanistic and Financial Burden Experienced by Nonprofessional Care Partners of Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Due to Alzheimer’s Disease: Results From a Real-World Survey in Spain
Author(s)
Maria Gallego, Degree in Pharmacy1, Ignacio Cuervo-Arango Gonzalez-Blanch, Degree in Pharmacy1, Riya Arora, MA2, Niels Juul Brogaard, MSc3, Chloe Walker, MSc4.
1Novo Nordisk Pharma S.A., Madrid, Spain, 2Novo Nordisk Service Centre India Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, India, 3Novo Nordisk A/S, Søborg, Denmark, 4Adelphi Real World, Bollington, United Kingdom.
1Novo Nordisk Pharma S.A., Madrid, Spain, 2Novo Nordisk Service Centre India Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, India, 3Novo Nordisk A/S, Søborg, Denmark, 4Adelphi Real World, Bollington, United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVES: To explore the burden experienced by non-professional care partners of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), delineated by severity.
METHODS: Data were drawn from the Adelphi Real World AD Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey of physicians and their patients with MCI and dementia due to AD (clinically diagnosed or biomarker-confirmed) in Spain, between January-July 2023. Physicians reported current mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores for approximately their next nine consulting patients, followed by one patient with biomarker-confirmed MCI due to AD. Care partners self-reported demographics, travel time to the patient (remote care partners only), out of pocket costs, health conditions and impact of caring responsibilities on lifestyle. Data was delineated by current MMSE score. Analyses were descriptive.
RESULTS: Overall, 94 physicians reported data on 580 patients (10,3% with an MMSE of 30-26, 33,1% 25-21, 49,7% 20-11, 6,9% 10-0), and 130 care partners self-reported data. Mean (standard deviation) care partner age was 60,7 years (14,9), and 63,1% were female. Most were the patient’s partner/spouse (48,5%) or child (37,7%). Care partners spent an average of 1,0 (0,8) hours travelling to visit the patient. Monthly cost for professional care was reported to be €253,9 (€430,1) and for travel this was €26,7 (€40,0). Care partners most frequently reported experiencing stress (care partners of patients with an MMSE of 30-26: 25,0%; 25-21: 52,6%; 20-11: 50,8%; 10-0: 88,9%), anxiety (43,8%; 47,4%; 50,8%; 55,6%), back pain (37,5%; 42,1%; 41,5%) and sleeping problems (31,2%; 31,6%; 38,5%; 44,4%). Reported lifestyle changes included having less time for themselves (33,3%; 50,0%; 59,1%; 87,5%) and other family members (33,3%; 34,2%; 51,5%; 62,5%).
CONCLUSIONS: Care partners often neglect their personal life due to caregiving. Slowing disease progression through early intervention and ensuring healthcare system preparedness is crucial to reducing burden.
METHODS: Data were drawn from the Adelphi Real World AD Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey of physicians and their patients with MCI and dementia due to AD (clinically diagnosed or biomarker-confirmed) in Spain, between January-July 2023. Physicians reported current mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores for approximately their next nine consulting patients, followed by one patient with biomarker-confirmed MCI due to AD. Care partners self-reported demographics, travel time to the patient (remote care partners only), out of pocket costs, health conditions and impact of caring responsibilities on lifestyle. Data was delineated by current MMSE score. Analyses were descriptive.
RESULTS: Overall, 94 physicians reported data on 580 patients (10,3% with an MMSE of 30-26, 33,1% 25-21, 49,7% 20-11, 6,9% 10-0), and 130 care partners self-reported data. Mean (standard deviation) care partner age was 60,7 years (14,9), and 63,1% were female. Most were the patient’s partner/spouse (48,5%) or child (37,7%). Care partners spent an average of 1,0 (0,8) hours travelling to visit the patient. Monthly cost for professional care was reported to be €253,9 (€430,1) and for travel this was €26,7 (€40,0). Care partners most frequently reported experiencing stress (care partners of patients with an MMSE of 30-26: 25,0%; 25-21: 52,6%; 20-11: 50,8%; 10-0: 88,9%), anxiety (43,8%; 47,4%; 50,8%; 55,6%), back pain (37,5%; 42,1%; 41,5%) and sleeping problems (31,2%; 31,6%; 38,5%; 44,4%). Reported lifestyle changes included having less time for themselves (33,3%; 50,0%; 59,1%; 87,5%) and other family members (33,3%; 34,2%; 51,5%; 62,5%).
CONCLUSIONS: Care partners often neglect their personal life due to caregiving. Slowing disease progression through early intervention and ensuring healthcare system preparedness is crucial to reducing burden.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
HSD60
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
Neurological Disorders, No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas