MEDICAL, ABSENTEEISM, AND MORTALITY COST OF ASTHMA IN THE UNITED STATES

• Published in: Value in health 2017-05, Vol.20 (5), p.A203
• Main Authors: Nurmagambetov, T, Kuwahara, R, Garbe, P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absenteeism; Asthma; Cost analysis; Decision makers; Drugs; Emergency medical care; Health care expenditures; Human capital; Mortality; Resource allocation; Visits
• ISSN: 1098-3015; 1524-4733
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2017.05.005

OBJECTIVES: The cost of asthma is an important measure of the impact of the disease on society. Presenting the burden of the disease in monetary terms provides critical information to decision makers for better allocation of healthcare resources. In this paper we provided estimates of the prevalence, medical costs, and costs of absenteeism (missed school and workdays) and mortality attributable to asthma using the most recent data available. METHODS: The primary source of data for this study was the 2008-2013 household component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). We used a two-part regression model to estimate annual per person medical expenditure and negative binomial models to estimate asthma-related absenteeism. We applied a human capital approach to measure the value of absenteeism and mortality. We used personal weights from MEPS to estimate national prevalence and costs of asthma. RESULTS: Prevalence of asthma in the United States ranged from 4.81% in 2008 to 5.16 in 2011. Over the 2008-2013 period, the incremental medical cost of asthma was $3,081 (2015 US dollars) per person per year, with $1,552 attributable to prescription medication, $682 to office-based providers visits, $161 to hospital-based outpatient visits, $553 to hospitalizations, and $117 to emergency rooms visits. Asthma was responsible for additional 1.78 work and 2.32 school days lost annually which represents more than 8.6 million work and more than 5.1 million school days lost nationally due to asthma, for a total loss of $2.9 billion. The total cost of asthma was $62.6 billion, of which $57.9 billion was for medical expenditures and $4.7 billion was attributed to absenteeism and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The cost of asthma represents a significant economic burden in the United States. Our study results highlight the urgent need to improve and enhance strategies to prevent and control asthma, and thereby reduce its economic burden.