Research article

Economic burden of asthma: a systematic review

Katayoun Bahadori¹ , Mary M Doyle-Waters¹ , Carlo Marra² , Larry Lynd² , Kadria Alasaly³ , John Swiston⁴ and J Mark FitzGerald⁴

¹  Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Evaluation (C2E2), UBC, Vancouver, BC, Canada

²  Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UBC, Vancouver, BC, Canada

³  British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Vancouver, BC, Canada

⁴  Department of Medicine, Respiratory Division, UBC, Vancouver, BC, Canada

author email corresponding author email

BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2009, 9:24doi:10.1186/1471-2466-9-24

Published:	19 May 2009

Abstract

Background

Asthma is associated with enormous healthcare expenditures that include both direct and indirect costs. It is also associated with the loss of future potential earnings related to both morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study is to determine the burden of disease costs associated with asthma.

Methods

We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CDSR, OHE-HEED, and Web of Science Databases between 1966 and 2008.

Results

Sixty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Hospitalization and medications were found to be the most important cost driver of direct costs. Work and school loss accounted for the greatest percentage of indirect costs. The cost of asthma was correlated with comorbidities, age, and disease severity.

Conclusion

Despite the availability of effective preventive therapy, costs associated with asthma are increasing. Strategies including education of patients and physicians, and regular follow-up are required to reduce the economic burden of asthma.