Authors: Sheryl Hui-Xian Ng, Palvinder Kaur, Laurence Lean Chin Tan, Mervyn Yong Hwang Koh, Andy Hau Yan Ho, Allyn Hum & Woan Shin Tan

Published in: PharmacoEconomics. Published online: 19 Mar 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41669-025-00573-3

Summary points:

1. Healthcare expenditure for patients with advanced cancer and end-stage organ disease begins to increase at 3 years before death, emphasizing the importance of managing chronic disease among older adults to moderate subsequent end-of-life healthcare costs.
2. Patients with end-stage respiratory failure incurred the highest costs over 5 years prior to death, driven by inpatient utilization, highlighting the need for dedicated care pathways for these patients to moderate their resource use over time.
3. In contrast, patients with advanced dementia incurred the lowest costs over the same period, potentially demonstrating the gradual cost impact of shifting care out of the acute setting into the community.