The economic impact of preschool asthma and wheeze

• Published in: The European respiratory journal Vol. 21; no. 6; pp. 1000 - 1006
• Main Authors: Stevens, C.A, Turner, D, Kuehni, C.E, Couriel, J.M, Silverman, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Leeds Eur Respiratory Soc 01-06-2003; Maney
• Subjects: Age Factors; Asthma - diagnosis; Asthma - economics; Asthma - therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Child, Preschool; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Cost of Illness; Health Care Costs - statistics & numerical data; Health Care Surveys - economics; Health Care Surveys - statistics & numerical data; Hospitalization - economics; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Infant; Medical sciences; Pneumology; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Respiratory Sounds - diagnosis; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors; United Kingdom; Human; Preschool age; Whistling rale; society and family costs; Respiratory disease; wheeze; health; Asthma; preschool; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Economic aspect; Cost analysis; Child
• ISSN: 0903-1936; 1399-3003
• DOI: 10.1183/09031936.03.00057002

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, patients' 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.