The economic impact of preschool asthma and wheeze

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the economic impact in the UK of wheezing disorders in preschool children.Health, societal and family-borne costs were calculated for a sample of 94 preschool children who attended hospital with a primary diagnosis of wheeze or asthma during 1998/1999. Sample costs were calculated using data from a structured interview schedule and from symptom diaries completed by trial parents, patients9 general practice and hospital records, and hospital finance data. Health costs for 1-5-yr-olds in the UK were calculated using data from a postal population survey in the same region.It is estimated that 1-5-yr-old children with wheeze in the UK cost the health service a total of 53 million UK pounds (GBP). The greatest expenditure, 34 million GBP, was for primary care, representing 65.2% of total healthcare costs. Prescription costs represented 20.4% (11 million GBP) of total healthcare costs.Caring for preschool children with wheeze in the UK cost the health service 0.15% of its total budget in 1998/1999. The total costs to society of caring for the 0.88% of preschool children who attended hospital for asthma or wheeze in a year represented a further 2.6 million UK pounds. Primary prevention strategies at the population level promise more cost savings than any attempt at decreasing hospitalisations in those more severely ill.

Definition, assessment and treatment of wheezing disorders in preschool children: an evidence-based approach

“…As a result, recurrent wheeze is a very common clinical problem facing practitioners throughout the world. It has been estimated that the problem of preschool wheeze utilises 0.15% of the total healthcare budget in the UK [3]. Despite its high prevalence, there is a lack of evidence regarding the pathophysiology and treatment of preschool wheeze.…”

Investigation of young children with severe recurrent wheeze: any clinical benefit?

“…heezing in infants and preschool children is common [1] and accounts for many acute hospital admissions [2]. The management of these patients, especially when symptoms are recurrent and severe, is a challenging task because of many difficult issues unique to this age group [3].…”

The Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER): Rationale and Design

“…Recent data on British pre-school children show that 29% of all children have a history of ever wheezing, 26% are current wheezers, 19% have been diagnosed to have asthma and 26% are treated for wheeze [3]. The rising prevalence around the world imposes a growing burden on society in terms of consultations in primary care, hospital admissions, associated health care costs and quality of life of affected children and their families [2,8]. It is estimated that preschool wheeze in the UK costs the health service a total of 53 million UK pounds.…”

“…It is estimated that preschool wheeze in the UK costs the health service a total of 53 million UK pounds. The largest expenditure, 34 million UK pounds, is for primary care, followed by prescriptions costs representing 11 million UK pounds [2]. In addition, wheezing illnesses in early childhood predispose to chronic respiratory disease in later life, which requires long-term care with additional financial and social impact [5,6,9].…”

“…Wheezing illnesses are the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in infancy and childhood and have a large impact on health care [1,2]. The prevalence has increased substantially over the last few decades [3,4].…”