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Table 2 RUD studies with observational non-cost analyses (n = 8)

From: Which factors increase informal care hours and societal costs among caregivers of people with dementia? A systematic review of Resource Utilization in Dementia (RUD)

Author, year, country, source number

Type of study

Setting, age PwD (age CG), dementia stage

Method / data analysis

n

Dementia severity definition

Conclusion

Teipel et al. (2015) Germany [35]

Cohort study

Community-dwelling; 79.1; MMSE 21–23

t-tests

176 dyads

MMSE

Neuropsychiatric symptoms in a primary care cohort with dementia were associated with resource utilization and distress of caregivers.

Sköldunger et al. (2018) Sweden [42]

Cross-sectional

Nursing home population; 86; GCS severe 15.7%, moderate 25.7%

OLSa, GLMb

4831

Gottfries cognitive scale (GCS)

Impaired cognitive function and functional dependency increases the resource use in nursing homes.

Neubauer et al. (2008) Germany [36]

Cross-sectional

Community-dwelling; 80 (59.4); MMSE 18.6, NOSGERc 19.9

OLS, logit

313

MMSE, NOSGER

Previous studies underestimated costs of informal care because the time of informal caregivers other than the primary caregiver was not considered.

Hajek et al. (2016) Germany [45]

Longitudinal

Community-dwelling; 85 at baseline, MMSE 20.1

OLS REd

126

CDRe, GDS, MMSE

Informal caregiving time strongly increased with dementia severity.

Nordberg et al. (2005) Sweden [37]

Cross-sectional

Home-dwelling; 81.8; MMSE 25

Bivariate regression

740

MMSE, CDR

There is a stronger relationship between the severity of the cognitive decline and the amount of informal care rather than formal care.

Nordberg et al. (2007) Sweden [38]

Cross-sectional

Community-dwelling; 84.6; MMSE 13

Tobit regression

176

MMSE, CDR

There is a variation in time use in institutional settings due to differences in ADL dependency, but also whether dementia is present or not. This variation has implications for costs of institutional care.

Luttenberger et al. (2012) Germany [39]

Cross-sectional, longitudinal

Nursing home; 84.7; MMSE 15.2

Regression

160

MMSE

The 6-month non-pharmacological intervention improved dementia symptoms in nursing home residents, especially in social behavior and IADL capabilities, but no effect was seen on informal care time.

Parrotta et al. (2020) Cross-countryf [40]

Cross-sectional

Community-dwelling; 81.9 (62); MMSE 12.5

Regression

1223

MMSE

Depression in PwD is associated with an increased burden and distress of informal caregivers and a reduction of their quality of life.

  1. PwD people with dementia, CG caregivers. a Ordinary Least Square regression, b Generalized Linear Model, c Nurses’ Observation Scale for Geriatric Patients [84], d Random Effect, e Clinical Dementia Rating [69] f Finland, Estonia, Germany France, the Netherlands