Clinical Characteristics and Economic Burden of Alzheimer's Disease Inpatients in Hubei Province, China: A Retrospective Analysis of Hospitalization Costs and Length of Stay

Siyi Chen¹Chenguang Jia²Liangzi Zhang³Yin Shen⁴Da Zhou^5*Meng Li^6*Peng Xinye^3*Wen Liu^7*

• ¹Department of Pharmacy, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
• ²Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
• ³Division of Personnel Services, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hebei Province, China
• ⁴Department of Integrative Ultrasound Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, Wuhan, China
• ⁵Center for Health Information and Statistics of Hubei, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, Wuhan, China
• ⁶Department of Finance, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, Wuhan, China
• ⁷Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China

The rapid aging of the population in China has led to a significant increase in the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This escalating trend has resulted in a substantial economic burden, posing a formidable challenge to society.The study population comprised inpatients with AD in Hubei Province from January 2019 to December 2021. Comprehensive patient information was extracted from the provincial inpatient electronic system database. The data collected included age, gender, occupation, insurance type, method of hospital admission, diagnosis, length of stay (LOS), total medical expenses (TME), and discharge condition. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to identify and analyze the factors influencing LOS and TME among AD patients. The study encompassed a total of 22,301 AD patients. The mean age of the patients was 79.58 ± 10.12 years, with over 90% of the AD patients being 65 years or older. Male patients constituted 49.94% of the study population. The average LOS was determined to be 19.35 days. The mean TME per patient was calculated at US$2,593.38. A positive correlation was observed between medical expenses and patient age. Notably, the medical expenses for patients aged 85 years and above were 2.14 times higher than those for patients under 65 years. Of the total expenses, 57.04% were allocated to medication and service fees. Regarding comorbidities, infections, fractures, and cardiovascular diseases were identified as the top three cost drivers for AD inpatient hospitalization.Age and insurance type were identified as key determinants of both LOS and TME. To address these issues, strategies should be implemented to expand medical insurance coverage and enhance daily care for AD patients. Furthermore, it is crucial to prioritize the prevention of infections, fractures, and cardiovascular diseases among AD patients. The implementation of comprehensive health policies focusing on drug pricing, diagnostic procedures, and service costs is essential to mitigate the economic burden associated with AD.