Pharmacoeconomy of adult asthmatics

Asthma bronchiale represents serious social and economic problems in all over the world. Financial expenses are elevated every year.

Of the presented study was to analyze the current therapeutic approach in the management of bronchial asthma and to evaluate pharmacoeconomic aspects of treatment in selected outdoor asthmatic patients in region of Kosice (Eastern Slovakia).

The data of the total number 297 patients (183 females--61.6%, 114 males 38.4%), aged from 18 to 78 (average age 38) were analyzed.

The total expenses per day for all asthmatics represented 19,465 Sk (65.54 Sk/day/patient). Short-acting beta 2-agonists (beta-A) (55.2%) were administered most frequently, followed by inhaled corticosteroids (CS) (43.1%), theophyllins (T) with slow released formulas (36.4%), cromoglycates (C) (33%), long-acting beta-A (19.9%), combined preparations beta-A with anticholinergics (ATCH) (Berodual, Combivent) (12.12%), depot CS (10.44%), antileucotriens (ALT) (10.10%), combined preparation beta-A with C (Ditec, 8.75%), short-acting T (6.73%), systemic CS (5.72%), ATCH (4.71%). Additive therapy represented antihistamines (AH) (69.36%), topic AH, nasal and eyes drops (38.8%), specific immunotherapy (36.03%), immunomodulatory therapy (23.23%), expectorans and antitusive drugs (15.49%), respectively. C (20.33%) represented the highest financial cost from the total financial budget followed by inhaled CS (16.34%), long-acting beta-A (13.20%) and ALT (8.9%), short-acting T (0.39%) and short-acting beta-A (3.41%), respectively. In the group of additive drugs AH dominated (15.85%).

The optimal selection of antiasthmatic drugs should be kept in mind by physicians. Our study shows some reserves in respect of optimal selection of antiasthmatic (generic drugs should be preferred), therapeutic efficacy and compliance of patients. (Tab. 11, Ref. 15.)