The projected economic and health burden of uncontrolled asthma in the United States

Abstract

Rationale: Despite effective treatments, a large proportion of asthma patients do not achieve sustained asthma control. The 'preventable' burden associated with lack of proper control is likely taking a high toll at the population level. Objective:We predicted the future health and economic burden of uncontrolled asthma among American adults for the next 20 years. Methods:We built a probabilistic model that linked state-specific estimates of population growth, asthma prevalence rates, and distribution of asthma control levels. We conducted several meta-analyses to estimate the adjusted differences in healthcare resource use, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and productivity loss across control levels. We projected, nationally and at the state-level, total direct and indirect costs (in 2018 USD) and QALYs lost due to uncontrolled asthma from 2019 to 2038 in the United States. Measurements and Main Results:Over the next 20 years, the total undiscounted direct costs associated with suboptimal asthma control will be $300.6 billion (95% confidence interval [CI] $190.1 -$411.1). When indirect costs are added, total economic burden will be $963.5 billion (95%CI $664.1 -$1,262.9). American adolescents and adults will lose 15.46 million (95%CI 12.77 million -18.14 million) QALYs over this period due to suboptimal control of asthma. In state-level analysis, the average 20-year per-capita costs due to uncontrolled asthma ranged from $2,209 (Arkansas) to $6,132 (Connecticut). Conclusion:The burden of uncontrolled asthma will continue to grow for the next twenty years. Strategies towards better management of asthma may be associated with substantial return on investment.

Facilitating Health Information Exchange to Improve Health Outcomes for School-Aged Children: School Nurse Electronic Health Record Access

“…visits and hospitalizations for children are consistently cited as causing high costs to families and communities related to lost school days, parents' loss of wages, and healthcare access and expenditures. [31][32][33] Previous intervention data focused on students with chronic conditions like asthma have demonstrated reduced morbidity, absenteeism, and exacerbations with various electronic messaging and transmission of health care plans. 6,[34][35][36] In this study, school nurse access to the EHR allowed them to obtain school health forms independently, view updated medical information, and access school-related orders without contacting or causing time burdens on clinicians and clinics.…”

Influence of non-pharmacological interventions on inhaled allergen sensitization in children during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Allergic diseases have caused a tremendous socioeconomic burden as well. For example, researches have shown the United States has spent over $960 billion annually on asthma management [10] . COVID-19 outbreak was declared a global pandemic after the first case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID- 19) was identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in 2019.…”

Associations Between Incident Asthma With Comorbidity Profiles, Night Sleep Duration, and Napping Duration Trajectories: A 7-Year Prospective Study

“…Asthma-attributable deaths and disability-adjusted life-years rates were 6.48 and 297.92 per 100,000 persons in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017, respectively [1]. A recent study demonstrated that American adolescents and adults with uncontrolled asthma are estimated to be associated with a total economic burden of $963.5 billion and 15.46 million quality-adjusted life years lost over the next 20 years [2]. Therefore, identifying independent factors for developing asthma is a public health priority in order to reduce the substantial burden (secondary to asthma itself) this has on patients and society.…”