A recent study conducted by researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School and the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) has highlighted the substantial financial burden posed by cognitive impairment in Singapore.
The study estimates that individuals with cognitive impairment incur an additional yearly healthcare cost of approximately S$700 per person due to increased emergency department visits and subsequent hospital admissions. The findings were published in the journal Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore.
Key Findings
Researchers found that individuals with cognitive impairment spend, on average, 17% more annually on healthcare compared to their cognitively healthy peers. The lead researcher, Assistant Professor Chay Junxing from the Lien Centre for Palliative Care at Duke-NUS, emphasised the importance of quantifying these additional costs to develop strategies aimed at reducing unnecessary hospital admissions. They used data from the population-based Singapore Chinese Health Study.
Projected Costs
The study projects that the total annual additional healthcare costs for cognitive impairment in Singapore will rise to S$106 million by 2030. This is driven by the ageing population. This projection underscores the urgent need for strategies to manage the increasing burden of unplanned healthcare utilisation. The Ministry of Health has estimated that the number of individuals living with dementia alone could reach 152,000 by 2030 and 187,000 by 2050. This rise will further exacerbate healthcare expenditures to S$131 million annually by mid-century.
Strategic Recommendations
The study’s authors suggest several strategies to manage this growing healthcare burden:
- Proactive Monitoring: Implementing regular monitoring of individuals with cognitive impairment to reduce the risk of high-cost medical events.
- Partnerships with Care Facilities: Collaborating with nursing homes and other care facilities to enhance care throughout the illness journey. Consequently, it will reduce emergency service utilisation.
- Educational Programs: Providing better education for caregivers to help manage the care of their loved ones more effectively.
Healthcare Utilisation Patterns
The study also highlights that individuals with cognitive impairment are more likely to access emergency services. This is often due to conditions such as pneumonia, heart failure, urinary tract infections, and fall-related injuries. These patients tend to have poorer treatment compliance and face greater challenges in post-discharge care. Subsequently, it will contribute to higher emergency service use.
Expert Insights
Senior author Professor Eric Finkelstein is the Executive Director of the Lien Centre for Palliative Care at Duke-NUS. He stressed the need for healthcare planners to prepare for the growing burden of cognitive impairment on healthcare resources. He advocates for early identification and intervention to prevent crises and reduce strain on the healthcare system.
Professor Patrick Tan, Senior Vice-Dean for Research at Duke-NUS, emphasised the importance of understanding healthcare service utilisation to provide cost-effective, quality care. He added “Understanding how our healthcare services are used provides important insights on how we can provide not only more cost-effective care but care that will provide a better quality of life to patients. The findings from this study highlight a need for more services that can identify individuals at risk of cognitive impairment early and greater education of their caregivers to help them proactively manage the care of their loved ones.”
Conclusion
Duke-NUS is dedicated to advancing patient care through innovative biomedical and health services research. The findings from this study will contribute to building a more resilient and future-ready healthcare system in Singapore.
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