Poor Control Increases the Economic Cost of Asthma

Abstract

Background/Aims: Up to now, few cost-of-illness (COI) studies have estimated the cost of adult asthma at an individual level on general population samples. We sought to evaluate the cost of current asthma from the societal perspective in young Italian adults and the determinants of cost variation. Methods: In 2000, a COI study was carried out in the frame of the Italian Study on Asthma in Young Adults on 527 current asthmatics (20–44 years) screened out of 15,591 subjects from the general population in seven centres. Detailed information about direct medical expenditures (DMEs) and indirect costs due to asthma was collected at an individual level over the past 12 months. Results: The mean annual cost per patient was EUR 741 (95% CI: 599–884). DMEs represented 42.8% of the total cost, whereas the remaining 57.2% was indirect costs. The largest component of DMEs was medication costs (47.3%; 23.0% was due to hospitalization). The mean annual cost per patient ranged from EUR 379 (95% CI: 216–541)for well-controlled asthmatics to EUR 1,341 (95% CI: 978–1,706) for poorly controlled cases that accounted for 46.2% of the total cost. Poor control, coexisting chronic cough and phlegm, and low socio-economic status were significantly associated with high DMEs and indirect costs. Conclusions: In Italy, asthma-related costs were substantial even in unselected patients and were largely driven by indirect costs. Since about half of the total cost was due to a limited proportion of poorly controlled asthmatics, interventions aimed at these high-cost patients could reduce the economic burden of the disease.

Association between psoriasis and asthma risk: A meta-analysis

“…1 It is estimated that Ͼ300 million people worldwide have asthma, and this disease has caused a significant economic burden. 2,3 The worldwide prevalence of asthma has increased in recent years. 2,4 The complex causes of asthma likely depend on the interaction of environmental, immunologic, and genetic factors.…”

Tradução e adaptação cultural do Asthma Control Scoring System (Sistema de Escore para Controle Abrangente da Asma) para uso no Brasil

“…(1,23) Some authors have stated that, in a superficial assessment, the parameters used in clinical practice can erroneously classify a patient with poorly controlled asthma as having well controlled asthma, (24) and this can consequently result in insufficient treatment and a higher risk of morbidity. In addition, overestimating severity can lead to an excessive use of drugs, unnecessarily increasing costs (25) and risks, with potential adverse effects of treatment.…”

The burden of nonadherence among adults with asthma: a role for shared decision‐making

“…The prevalence of asthma is increasing due to multiple factors including greater exposure to antibiotics in infancy, atopic sensitization, changes in environmental exposures like pollution and allergens, and diet (10). There is also a significant economic burden associated with asthma due to the direct and indirect costs and death (11). Worldwide, approximately 180 000 people die annually from asthma (10).…”