Bülent Enis Şekerel1, Haluk Türktaş2, Sevim Bavbek3, Ergün Öksüz4, Simten Malhan5. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. 2. Department of Chest Diseases, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. 3. Department of Chest Diseases, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. 4. Department of Family Medicine, Başkent University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. 5. Department of Health Care Management, Başkent University Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To estimate economic burden of pediatric asthma in Turkey from payer perspective. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cost of illness study was based on identification of per patient annual direct medical costs for the management of pediatric asthma in Turkey from payer perspective. Average per patient direct medical cost was calculated based on cost items related to outpatient visits, laboratory and radiological tests, hospitalizations and interventions, drug treatment and equipment, and co-morbidities/complications. RESULTS: Based on total annual per patient costs calculated for outpatient admission ($113.14), laboratory-radiological tests ($35.94), hospitalizations ($725.92), drug treatment/equipment ($212.90) and co-morbidities/complications ($144.62) cost items, total per patient annual direct medical cost related to management of pediatric asthma was calculated to be $1,232.53 from payer perspective. Hospitalizations and interventions (58.9%) was the main cost driver. Direct cost for managing controlled and uncontrolled pediatric asthma were calculated to be $530.17 [key cost driver: drugs/equipment (40.0%)] and $1,023.16 [key cost driver: hospitalization/interventions (59.0%)], respectively. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that managing patients with pediatric asthma pose a considerable burden to health economics in Turkey, with hospitalizations identified as the main cost driver and two-fold cost increment in case of uncontrolled disease.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate economic burden of pediatric asthma in Turkey from payer perspective. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cost of illness study was based on identification of per patient annual direct medical costs for the management of pediatric asthma in Turkey from payer perspective. Average per patient direct medical cost was calculated based on cost items related to outpatient visits, laboratory and radiological tests, hospitalizations and interventions, drug treatment and equipment, and co-morbidities/complications. RESULTS: Based on total annual per patient costs calculated for outpatient admission ($113.14), laboratory-radiological tests ($35.94), hospitalizations ($725.92), drug treatment/equipment ($212.90) and co-morbidities/complications ($144.62) cost items, total per patient annual direct medical cost related to management of pediatric asthma was calculated to be $1,232.53 from payer perspective. Hospitalizations and interventions (58.9%) was the main cost driver. Direct cost for managing controlled and uncontrolled pediatric asthma were calculated to be $530.17 [key cost driver: drugs/equipment (40.0%)] and $1,023.16 [key cost driver: hospitalization/interventions (59.0%)], respectively. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that managing patients with pediatric asthma pose a considerable burden to health economics in Turkey, with hospitalizations identified as the main cost driver and two-fold cost increment in case of uncontrolled disease.
Authors: Ahmet U Demir; Gül Karakaya; Bülent Bozkurt; Bülent E Sekerel; Ali F Kalyoncu Journal: Pediatr Allergy Immunol Date: 2004-12 Impact factor: 6.377