Burden of Respiratory Disease in Korea: An Observational Study on Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma, COPD, and Rhinosinusitis

• Published in: Allergy, asthma & immunology research Vol. 8; no. 6; pp. 527 - 534
• Main Authors: Yoo, Kwang Ha, Ahn, Hae Ryun, Park, Jae Kyoung, Kim, Jong Woong, Nam, Gui Hyun, Hong, Soon Kwan, Kim, Mee Ja, Ghoshal, Aloke Gopal, Muttalif, Abdul Razak Bin Abdul, Lin, Horng Chyuan, Thanaviratananich, Sanguansak, Bagga, Shalini, Faruqi, Rab, Sajjan, Shiva, Baidya, Santwona, Wang, De Yun, Cho, Sang Heon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology; The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease 01-11-2016; 대한천식알레르기학회
• Subjects: Original; 내과학; Respiratory tract disease; cost of illness; health care costs; Korea
• ISSN: 2092-7355; 2092-7363
• DOI: 10.4168/aair.2016.8.6.527

The Asia-Pacific Burden of Respiratory Diseases (APBORD) study is a cross-sectional, observational one which has used a standard protocol to examine the disease and economic burden of allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and rhinosinusitis across the Asia-Pacific region. Here, we report on symptoms, healthcare resource use, work impairment, and associated costs in Korea.
Consecutive participants aged ≥18 years with a primary diagnosis of asthma, AR, COPD, or rhinosinusitis were enrolled. Participants and their treating physician completed a survey detailing respiratory symptoms, healthcare resource use, and work productivity and activity impairment. Costs included direct medical cost and indirect cost associated with lost work productivity.
The study enrolled 999 patients. Patients were often diagnosed with multiple respiratory disorders (42.8%), with asthma/AR and AR/rhinosinusitis the most frequently diagnosed combinations. Cough or coughing up phlegm was the primary reason for the medical visit in patients with a primary diagnosis of asthma and COPD, whereas nasal symptoms (watery runny nose, blocked nose, and congestion) were the main reasons in those with AR and rhinosinusitis. The mean annual cost for patients with a respiratory disease was US$8,853 (SD 11,245) per patient. Lost productivity due to presenteeism was the biggest contributor to costs.
Respiratory disease has a significant impact on disease burden in Korea. Treatment strategies for preventing lost work productivity could greatly reduce the economic burden of respiratory disease.