Direct Medical Cost of Asthma in Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

Background: There has been no documented data regarding the cost of asthma in our country. Objective: In this 1-year prospective study, we aimed to determine the annual cost of asthma in Ankara, Turkey. Methods: Direct medical cost analysis was performed in 118 patients. Results: Mean annual direct medical costs of asthma were USD 1,465.7 ± 111.8 per capita. Medication cost comprised the majority (81%) of the total direct cost. Mean direct medical costs according to the stage of disease were USD 172.5 ± 51.7, 860.7 ± 70.2, 1,671.6 ± 141.8 and 3,491.9 ± 417.6 for stage 1 (n = 4), 2 (n = 54), 3 (n = 46) and 4 (n = 14) patients, respectively. Conclusions: In this first study to document the cost of asthma for our region, direct cost of asthma was found to be increased with the severity of the illness. Considering the fact that medication cost comprises the major fraction of the direct cost, cost-effectiveness trials to determine the effective treatment with optimal cost for different asthma stages should be the next step.

Out-of-Pocket Costs of Asthma Follow-Up Care in Adults in a Sub-Saharan African Country

“…This figure is similar to the 81%, 84%, and 89% found in Turkey, Germany, and Australia, respectively [10,16,22], but higher than other studies which reported that medication costs corresponded to a range between 30 and 47% direct costs of asthma care [12][13][14]. The differences in prescription costs noted may be due to differences in the types of medication given to the patients, doses of medication required by each patient, and the severity of their asthma.…”

“…The average asthma-related direct costs of care in developed countries ranged between $273 in Australia, $1779 in Switzerland, and up to $4101 in the United States of America per patient annually [5,17,18]. In developing countries, average direct costs of asthma care per patient annually ranged between US$135 in Thailand, US$276 in Malaysia, and US$1,466 in Turkey [10,12,19]. In the USA and Turkey, the total cost of asthma was estimated as US$12.7 billion and US$1.9 billion, in 1998 and 2004, respectively [10,14].…”

“…In developing countries, average direct costs of asthma care per patient annually ranged between US$135 in Thailand, US$276 in Malaysia, and US$1,466 in Turkey [10,12,19]. In the USA and Turkey, the total cost of asthma was estimated as US$12.7 billion and US$1.9 billion, in 1998 and 2004, respectively [10,14]. Considering the midyear population count of 160 million [20] and the proportion of the population with clinical asthma in Nigeria (5.4%) [1], our study suggests that, for Nigeria, the total cost of asthma care may also be substantial.…”

“…This results in a considerable high proportion of uncontrolled asthma, which is associated with greater economic burden to families and the health system and deterioration in quality of life [7][8][9]. In high-/middle-income countries, costs of asthma inpatient care [10], hospitalization [10][11][12], and exacerbations [13] have been previously documented. However, reports on cost of asthma followup among individuals with poorly controlled asthma are lacking worldwide.…”

Comparison of allergic asthma patients treated with omalizumab and non-allergic patients treated with continuous oral corticosteroids: results of five year follow-up therapies

“…However, the remaining patients with severe asthma are candidates for step 5 treatment, as their condition cannot be controlled with step 4 medications (1-3). Since these patients have severe asthma, require many medications, frequently visit emergency rooms, and are often hospitalized, this condition places a significant burden on both the patients and the health care system (4,5).…”