Affiliations: [a] Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| [b] Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| [c] Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| [d] Centre for Research and Development, Uppsala University, Gävle, Sweden
| [e] Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| [f] Theme Inflammation and Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| [g] Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Eva Zupanic, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre, Zaloska c. 2a, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Tel.: +38631879575; E-mail: eva.zupanic@kclj.si.
Abstract: Slovenia, situated in Central Europe with a population of 2.1 million, has an estimated 44,278 individuals with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease or mild Alzheimer’s dementia, rendering them potential candidates for disease-modifying treatment (DMT), such as lecanemab. We identified 114 potential candidates whose real-life expenses for diagnostic process surmount to more than €80,000. Treating all potential candidates nationwide would amount to €1.06 billion, surpassing Slovenia’s entire annual medication expenditure for 2022 (€743 million). The introduction of DMTs and the associated logistics, along with potential complications, will significantly change societal, professional, and patient approach to treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, disease modifying treatment, health economics, lecanemab
