Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2025
Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
Published on: November 4, 2010
The Healthcare Cost Burden of Asthma in Children: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study
Kabir Ahmad1, Rasheda Khanam1, Enamul Kabir2
1School of Business and Centre for Health Research, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.
Insights
Childhood asthma significantly increases healthcare costs, burdening the public health system. Early prevention efforts are economically justified due to higher costs for asthmatic children.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Health Economics
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Childhood asthma represents a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the economic impact of childhood asthma is crucial for resource allocation and policy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the population-level healthcare cost increase attributed to childhood asthma.
- To examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between asthma prevalence and healthcare expenditures in children.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) with linked Medicare cost data (2004-2018).
- Included 4175 (birth cohort) and 4482 (kindergarten cohort) children aged 2-18 years.
- Employed generalized linear models to estimate excess healthcare costs, encompassing Medicare Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme expenditures.
Main Results:
- Total excess healthcare costs associated with childhood asthma were A$4316 per child.
- Annual excess Medicare costs for childhood asthma treatment averaged A$190.6 million (2018 values).
- Persistent asthma led to substantial excess costs, up to A$20,727 for the birth cohort and A$19,571 for the kindergarten cohort.
Conclusions:
- Childhood asthma imposes a considerable financial burden on the Australian public health system.
- The elevated healthcare costs associated with childhood asthma underscore the economic rationale for investing in preventive strategies.
- Early intervention and prevention of childhood asthma are essential for mitigating long-term healthcare expenditures.
Objectives:
This study aimed to investigate the extent of healthcare cost increase at population level due to childhood asthma. We aimed to investigate the cross-sectional relationship between asthma and healthcare costs among children aged 2 to 18 years and, in longitudinal analyses, whether costs increase with an increase in the duration of asthma prevalence.
Methods:
Study participants are 4175 and 4482 children of birth and kindergarten cohorts from the nationally representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children for whom the linked Medicare cost data are available. The children were followed in all waves from the year 2004 to 2018. Generalized linear models were used to estimate the excess healthcare costs associated with asthma. The sum of Medicare Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme costs constitutes the total healthcare costs.
Results:
Total excess healthcare costs associated with asthma among the 2- to 18-year-old children were A$4316 per child. At the population level, the estimated total excess Medicare costs associated with current asthma treatment among 2- to 18-year-old children were, on average, A$190.6 million per year (2018 population and price). Compared with the non-asthmatic children, peers with persistent asthma morbidity and treatment requirements had excess costs up to A$20 727 for the B cohort children until 14 years of age, whereas excess costs for the K cohort children were A$19 571 until 18 years of age.
Conclusions:
Asthma in children imposes a significant financial burden on the public health system. Higher excess healthcare costs of all asthmatic children than the costs of nonasthmatic children provide further economic justification for promoting preventive efforts at early ages.
More Related Videos
04:03Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Therapeutic Efficacy of Moving Cupping Along Meridians for Acute Exacerbation of COPD
Published on: September 27, 2024
05:31Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:24Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma
01:29Asthma-I: Introduction
01:30Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
01:20Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
01:30Asthma-IV: Nursing Management
First, in...