@article {117,
	title = {Health-care use and cost in dementia caregivers: Longitudinal results from the Predictors Caregiver Study.},
	journal = {Alzheimers Dement},
	year = {2014},
	month = {2014 Mar 15},
	abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of caregiver and patient characteristics on caregivers{\textquoteright} medical care use and cost.

METHODS: One hundred forty-seven caregiver/patient dyads were followed annually for 6~years in three academic Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease centers in the United States. Logistic, negative binomial, and generalized linear mixed models were used to examine overall effects of caregiver/patient characteristics on caregivers{\textquoteright} hospitalizations, doctor visits, outpatient tests and procedures, and prescription and over-the-counter medications.

RESULTS: Patients{\textquoteright} comorbid conditions and dependence were associated with increased health-care use and costs of caregivers. Increases in caregiver depressive symptoms are associated with increases in multiple domains of caregivers{\textquoteright} health-care use and costs.

DISCUSSION: Findings suggest expanding our focus on dementia patients to include family caregivers to obtain a fuller picture of effects of caregiving. Primary care providers should integrate caregivers{\textquoteright} needs in health-care planning and delivery. Clinical interventions that treat patients and caregivers as a whole will likely achieve the greatest beneficial effects.},
	issn = {1552-5279},
	doi = {10.1016/j.jalz.2013.12.018},
	author = {Zhu, Carolyn W and Scarmeas, Nikolaos and Ornstein, Katherine and Albert, Marilyn and Brandt, Jason and Blacker, Deborah and Sano, Mary and Stern, Yaakov}
}
