title: Implications of the Impact Survey for payors across Europe.
abstract: People involved with development of health care policy must be appreciative of the social and economic challenges that will likely develop as a result of the rise in Alzheimer's disease (AD) as the 21st century progresses. Their attitudes, perceptions and understanding regarding AD were captured in the IMPACT survey, a 30-minute Web-based questionnaire. Fifty health policy managers and decision-makers (payors) were recruited, 10 each from 5 European countries--France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. Most payors felt that AD was underdiagnosed and undertreated in their country (80% and 68%, respectively). Half of all payors felt that their government did not invest enough in treating AD, and 30% felt their government hindered access to drug therapy. Payors believed that treatment should be initiated as early as possible after a diagnosis of AD (82%), and that early treatment can delay progression of the disease (82%). Even more than caregivers, payors agreed that AD can have devastating effects on the family of the sufferer (90% vs 75%; P<0.05). Payors more often cited cancer, stroke and heart disease than AD as affecting their budgets, but cited AD more often than depression, diabetes, HIV/AIDs and arthritis. Cost savings were seen as the most important factor regarding policy decisions. These attitudes of the surveyed payors towards AD and the patients and caregivers affected by it suggest that they may advocate for national and international policies that will facilitate earlier diagnosis and improved access to treatment.
authors.affiliation: University of Paris V, Foundation Nationale de Gerontologie, Paris, France. francoise.forette@brc.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forette
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Padovani
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berthet
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knox
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002017:Budgets; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D005060:Europe; D006076:Government; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans
references.citation: Neurology. 2001 Aug 28;57(4):613-20
references.pmid: 11524468
references.citation: J Nutr Health Aging. 2010 Aug;14(7):558-62
references.pmid: 20818471
references.citation: Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2006;21(5-6):353-63
references.pmid: 16508298
references.citation: J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2003 Sep;16(3):140-5
references.pmid: 12967055
references.citation: Drugs Aging. 2008;25(7):573-84
references.pmid: 18582146
references.citation: Curr Med Res Opin. 2009 Nov;25(11):2577-87
references.pmid: 19735164
references.citation: J Alzheimers Dis. 2009;17(1):105-14
references.pmid: 19494435
references.citation: Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2009;28(3):244-51
references.pmid: 19786776
references.citation: Arch Neurol. 2001 Mar;58(3):427-33
references.pmid: 11255446
references.citation: Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2007;24(2):138-45
references.pmid: 17622761
references.citation: Health Aff (Millwood). 1998 Nov-Dec;17(6):206-16
references.pmid: 9916370
references.citation: Neurology. 2004 Jul 27;63(2):214-9
references.pmid: 15277611
references.citation: J Nutr Health Aging. 2010 Aug;14(7):563-8
references.pmid: 20818472
references.citation: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2002 Mar;72(3):310-4
references.pmid: 11861686
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 2003 Apr 3;348(14):1333-41
references.pmid: 12672860
references.citation: J Nutr Health Aging. 2006 Sep-Oct;10(5):417-29
references.pmid: 17066215
references.citation: Am J Geriatr Pharmacother. 2005 Jun;3(2):92-102
references.pmid: 16129386
references.citation: Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2004;17(1-2):5-13
references.pmid: 14560059
references.citation: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2009 Jun;80(6):600-7
references.pmid: 19204022
references.citation: Lancet. 2005 Dec 17;366(9503):2112-7
references.pmid: 16360788