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The cost of childhood asthma and its determinants in Ankara, Turkey
N Ercüment Beyhun1, Nesrin Cilingiroğlu, Bülent E Sekerel
1Department of Public Health, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Pediatric asthma costs in Turkey averaged $991.7 annually per patient. Disease severity and treatment influenced direct costs, with adequate control reducing overall expenses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Health Economics
Background:
- Bronchial asthma is a prevalent chronic childhood illness with increasing social and economic impact.
- Understanding the economic burden of pediatric asthma is crucial for resource allocation and healthcare policy.
- Previous studies have highlighted the significant costs associated with childhood asthma management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the direct and indirect costs of pediatric asthma in Turkish children.
- To identify the key determinants influencing the economic burden of childhood asthma.
- To provide data for cost-effective management strategies for pediatric asthma.
Main Methods:
- A study was conducted in a single outpatient clinic involving 183 pediatric asthma patients.
- Data collection included questionnaire-guided interviews and retrospective analysis of patient files from the past year.
- Multivariate analysis was employed to identify cost determinants.
Main Results:
- The mean annual total cost per patient was US $991.7 (median = $688.8).
- Outpatient clinic visits constituted the largest portion of direct costs (48.5%).
- Disease severity, use of preventive drugs, and current hospitalization were significant determinants of direct costs.
Conclusions:
- Disease severity and treatment adherence are key factors in managing pediatric asthma costs.
- Adequate asthma control can decrease total direct costs, despite potential increases in medication and outpatient expenses.
- Targeted interventions focusing on disease control can alleviate the economic burden of childhood asthma.
Abstract:
Bronchial asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. In recent years a consistent increase in the prevalence, and concomitantly, in the social and economic impact of the disease, has been reported. In order to provide data for the cost of pediatric asthma and its determinants in Turkish children, a study was performed in a single outpatient clinic, which encompasses a questionnaire-guided interview and retrospective evaluation of the last year files. From the 183 patients enrolled, most were males (65.6%) and atopics (63.5%), with a disease severity of mild intermittent (67.7%). Mean annual total costs per patient was US $991.7 +/- 73.2 (median = 688.8) and the largest proportion of the direct costs was due to outpatient clinic costs (48.5%). Mean cost of any hospitalization per patient was US $955.5 +/- 16.5. In multivariate analysis, the disease severity, current use of preventive drugs and current use of emergency sevice and/or current hospitalization appeared to be the main determinants of direct costs. Adequate control of the disease plays a key role in decreasing the total direct costs of pediatric asthma although it increases the medication and outpatient costs.
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