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Pediatric asthma: improving management to reduce cost of care
Michael Mellon1, Bhash Parasuraman
1Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices, 5th Fl., 7060 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA, 92111, USA. michael.h.mellon@kp.org
Insights
Pediatric asthma incurs significant costs, but guideline-recommended inhaled corticosteroid therapy and patient education can reduce childhood asthma morbidity and healthcare expenses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Allergy and Immunology
Background:
- Pediatric asthma represents a significant economic burden, with annual healthcare costs reaching $3 billion.
- Effective clinical management of childhood asthma can mitigate costs associated with hospitalizations and acute care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current guidelines for pediatric asthma diagnosis and management.
- To highlight the role of inflammation in pediatric asthma and recommended treatments.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of National Institutes of Health (NIH) and American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) guidelines.
- Review of current understanding of asthma pathogenesis and treatment efficacy.
Main Results:
- Revised guidelines emphasize inflammation and recommend inhaled corticosteroids.
- Despite advancements, pediatric asthma prevalence and morbidity remain high.
Conclusions:
- Asthma interventions incorporating guideline-recommended inhaled corticosteroid therapy are crucial.
- Patient and caregiver education in asthma management can reduce childhood asthma morbidity and associated costs.
Background:
The economic burden of pediatric asthma is substantial, with national annual health care costs of $3 billion. Successful clinical management of asthma in children has the potential to decrease this burden by lowering the disproportionate costs of hospitalization and acute care for pediatric asthma patients.
Results:
Based on increased understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma, revised guidelines were published by the National Institutes of Health in 1997 (with an update in 2002) and by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology in 1999 to assist in the diagnosis and management of pediatric asthma. These guidelines emphasize the role of inflammation in asthma and recommend treatment of the underlying inflammatory process. Despite increased knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of the disease and the availability of effective anti-inflammatory agents, particularly inhaled corticosteroids, the prevalence of asthma and disease-related morbidity continues to remain high in children.
Conclusion:
Asthma interventions that include the use of guideline-recommended inhaled corticosteroid therapy and patient and caregiver education in asthma management may help to reduce asthma morbidity in children and decrease the substantial costs of pediatric asthma.
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