Dementia is one of the priorities in public health policy. By the World Health Organization report, the number of people with dementia worldwide in 2010 was an estimated 35.6 million and will increase to 115.4 million in 2050. Also in Korea, the estimated prevalence of dementia was 9% in 2012, it will become a 15% by 2050. The aim of this study is to estimate the cost of dementia and to provide policy implications for prevention and care management of dementia.
People with dementia and their families suffers from financial costs and care burden. Using the markov cohort simulations, for ten years, medical costs per patient is estimated 96 million Won. The another projection model shows the future prevalence reduction of dementia by reducing the modifiable risk factors, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, depression, smoking, and physical inactivity. For example, a 10% prevalence reduction in dementia risk factor would bring a reduction of 6,329 people in the number of future dementia patients.
These findings highlight public health policy across the lifecourse not only for care support but for prevention and promoting the elderly.