Collaborative Dementia Care More Cost-Effective Than Treatment Only With Lecanemab

A cost-effectiveness analysis found that a collaborative dementia care program was modeled as more cost-effective than treatment with lecanemab (Leqembi), a recently approved Alzheimer’s drug. Compared to usual care, collaborative care was associated with an additional 0.26 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) per person and approximately $48,000 in health care cost savings. Lecanemab was associated with an additional 0.17 QALYs but increased costs by approximately $38,500 per person — more than $225,000 per QALY gained.

The researchers characterized collaborative care as “dominant,” meaning it produced greater health gains at lower cost compared to . . .