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The economic impact of preschool asthma and wheeze

C A Stevens1, D Turner, C E Kuehni

  • 1Leicester Children's Asthma Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK. Caroline.Mulvaney@nottingham.ac.uk

The European Respiratory Journal
|June 12, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Wheezing disorders in UK preschool children incur significant healthcare costs, primarily in primary care and prescriptions. Population-level prevention strategies offer greater cost savings than managing severe cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Health Economics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Wheezing disorders are common in preschool children.
  • Understanding the economic burden of these conditions is crucial for resource allocation.
  • Previous studies have not comprehensively assessed the societal costs in the UK.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the economic impact of wheezing disorders in UK preschool children.
  • To calculate health, societal, and family-borne costs associated with childhood wheeze.
  • To identify key areas of expenditure within healthcare services.

Main Methods:

  • A sample of 94 preschool children diagnosed with wheeze or asthma was studied.
  • Data collected via interviews, symptom diaries, and healthcare records (general practice, hospital).
  • UK-wide health costs were extrapolated using regional population survey data.

Main Results:

  • Estimated total healthcare cost for 1-5-year-old children with wheeze in the UK was £53 million.
  • Primary care accounted for the largest expenditure (£34 million, 65.2% of total healthcare costs).
  • Prescription costs represented £11 million (20.4%), and societal costs were an additional £2.6 million.

Conclusions:

  • Wheezing disorders represent a substantial economic burden on the UK health service and society.
  • Primary care and prescriptions are the major drivers of healthcare costs.
  • Population-level primary prevention is more cost-effective than managing severe illness or hospitalizations.

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