Table 2 Meta-analysis on the incremental cost of pharmacological interventions for people with dementia

(01) Drugs for Alzheimer’s disease

 Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

5

MD: 859 (− 150, 1847)

SMD: 0.090 (− 0.016, 0.197)

5

MD: -2002 (− 4944, 939)

SMD: − 0.109 (− 0.283, 0.064)

 Memantine

1^b

MD: − 2283 (− 7874, 3309)

SMD: − 0.213 (− 0.736, 0.310)

2

MD: -6322 (− 14,355, 1711)

SMD: − 0.328 (− 0.594, − 0.063)^*

 Propentofylline

1^b

MD: 2171 (1085, 3256)

SMD: 0.340 (0.169, 0.512)

0

–

 Combination therapy

1^b

MD: 970 (− 3568, 5508)

SMD: 0.106 (− 0.389, 0.600)

1^b

MD: − 536 (− 7426, 6353)

SMD: − 0.038 (− 0.532, 0.455)

(02) Drugs for neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia

Antipsychotics

3

MD: − 574 (− 7141, 5993)

SMD: − 0.008 (− 0.211, 0.195)

0

–

Antidepressants

2

MD: 684 (− 1648, 3015)

SMD: 0.091 (− 0.222, 0.404)

2

MD: − 660 (− 4620, 3301)

SMD: − 0.041 (− 0.354, 0.272)