Short Term Economic Evaluation of the Digital Platform "Support, Monitoring and Reminder Technology for Mild Dementia" (SMART4MD) for People with Mild Cognitive Impairment and their Informal Caregivers

• Background: A randomized controlled trial of the SMART4MD tablet application was conducted for persons with mild cognitive impairment (PwMCI) and their informal caregivers to improve or maintain quality of life. Objective: The objective was to conduct economic evaluation of SMART4MD compared to standard care in Sweden from a healthcare provider perspective based on a 6-month follow-up period. Methods: Three hundred forty-five dyads were enrolled: 173 dyads in the intervention group and 172 in standard care. The primary outcome measures for PwMCI and informal caregivers were quality-adjusted life years (QALY). The results are presented as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios, and confidence intervals are calculated using non-parametric bootstrap procedure. Results: For PwMCI, the mean difference in total costs between intervention and standard care was (sic)12 (95%CI: -2090 to 2115) (US$ =(sic) 1.19) and the mean QALY change was -0.004 (95%CI: -0.009 to 0.002). For informal caregivers, the cost difference was -(sic)539 (95%CI: -2624 to 1545) and 0.003 (95%CI: -0.002 to 0.008) for QALY. The difference in cost and QALY for PwMCI and informal caregivers combined was -(sic)527 (95%CI: -3621 to 2568) and -0.001 (95%CI: -0.008 to 0.006). Although generally insignificant differences, this indicates that SMART4MD, compared to standard care was: 1) more costly and less effective for PwMCI, 2) less costly and more effective for informal caregivers, and 3) less costly and less effective for PwMCI and informal caregivers combined. Conclusion: The cost-effectiveness of SMART4MD over 6 months is inconclusive, although the intervention might be more beneficial for informal caregivers than PwMCI.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Carer

cost-effectiveness

economic evaluation

elderly

memory

mHealth

mild cognitive impairment

mild dementia

mobile application

smartphone

COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS

MINI-MENTAL-STATE

QUALITY-OF-LIFE

ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

CLINICAL-TRIALS

EQ-5D

BURDEN

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)