Economic burden of inadequate management of allergic diseases in the European Union: a GA²LEN review

Abstract

Background: In the European Union (EU), between 44 and 76 million individuals of the 217 million EU employees suffer from allergic disease of the airways or the skin. Up to 90% of these persons are untreated or insufficiently treated. This has major socio-economic consequences such as absence from work (absenteeism), particularly reduced productivity at work (presenteeism). Methods: We used published literature and online statistical information from Eurostat and Eurofound to assess the costs of allergic disease to society. Results: Allergies have an impact on direct, indirect, intangible and opportunity costs. Most importantly, for the EU, avoidable indirect costs per patient insufficiently treated for allergy range between €55 and €151 billion per annum due to absenteeism and presenteeism, that is, €2405 per untreated patient per year. On the other hand, appropriate therapy for allergic diseases is available at comparatively low costs at an average of €125 per patient annually, equalling only 5% of the costs of untreated disease, allowing potential savings of up to €142 billion. Conclusions: A better care for allergies based on guideline-based treatment would allow Europe's economy substantial savings. In addition, allergies have an impact on learning and performance at school and university, leading to opportunity costs for society. This cannot be calculated moneywise but will have an impact in a modern knowledge-based society. Still allergies are trivialized in society, noting that the costs of therapy are paid by patients and healthcare services, whereas economic savings are made by employers and society. A change of this mindset is urgently needed.

The Health Effects of Climate Change in the WHO European Region

“…Symptoms of allergic diseases result in absenteeism from work and school and significant productivity loss; it is estimated that allergic diseases generate avoidable costs of €55-151 billion per year across the European Union [182]. Significant associations have been identified between springtime pollen concentrations and emergency calls for asthma exacerbations among children [183].…”

A szárazsó-belégzéssel történő kezelés elméleti alapjai és gyakorlati haszna

“…Német, svéd, belga és amerikai szerzők együttes tanulmányukban arra hívják fel a fi gyelmet, hogy nemcsak népegészségügyi, hanem emellett jelentős gazdasági probléma is az allergia [19].…”

“…Ha pedig a 35%-os prevalenciát és a 20%-os produktivitáscsökkenést vették volna fi gyelembe, akkor a teljes kiesés 150,8 milliárd euró lett volna, a kezelés pedig csak 8,5 milliárd eurós többletet okozna, azaz meg lehetne spórolni 142 milliárd eurót. Úgy vélik, hogy a kognitív funkciók csökkené-se jelentősen csökkentheti a cég bevételét, de ez nagymértékben függ a végzett munka típusától [19].…”

Spatial and temporal variations in the Annual Pollen Index recorded by sites belonging to the Portuguese Aerobiology Network

“…IgE-associated allergic diseases are increasing in prevalence and severity globally (Bousquet et al 2011), and are becoming the most frequent chronic disease in the European Union (Zuberbier et al 2014). In Portugal, the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) showed an increase in the prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma symptoms in children, particularly in the 13-14 years age-group (Asher et al 2006).…”