Economic Burden of Chronic Comorbidities Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Dementia A Propensity Score Matched National-Level Study

Objective: This study examined the extent to which chronic comorbidities contribute to excess health care expenditures between older adults with dementia and propensity score (PS)-matched nondementia controls. Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, PS-matched case (dementia): control (nondementia) study of older adults (65 y or above) using alternative years data from pooled 2005 to 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS). Chronic comorbidities were identified based on Clinical Classifications System or ICD-9-CM codes. Ordinary least squares regression was utilized to quantify the impact of chronic comorbidities on the excess expenditures with logarithmic transformation. Expenditures were expressed as 2019 US dollars. All analyses accounted for the complex survey design of MEPS. Results: The mean yearly home health care expenditures were particularly higher among older adults with dementia and co-occurring anemia, eye disorders, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension compared with PS-matched controls. Ordinary least squares regression models revealed that home health care expenditures were 131% higher (beta=0.837, P<0.001) among older adults with dementia compared with matched nondementia controls before adjusting for chronic comorbidities. When additionally adjusting for chronic comorbidities, the percentage increase, while still significant (P<0.001) decreased from 131% to 102%. Conclusions: The excess home health care expenditures were partially explained by chronic comorbidities among community-dwelling older adults with dementia.