title: A retrospective assessment of cost avoidance associated with the use of nedocromil sodium metered-dose inhaler in the treatment of patients with asthma.
abstract: A retrospective analysis of patient charts was performed for a single, multioffice pulmonary practice in Toronto, Ontario. Canada, to assess hospital care utilization and associated cost reductions after asthma prophylaxis with nedocromil sodium inhalation aerosol. Data were obtained from 310 adult patients with mild, moderate, or severe asthma who were treated in the practice between January 1988 and June 1994 and who had been placed on nedocromil sodium for at least 1 year. The number of office visits increased with nedocromil sodium therapy due to initial surveillance of the new medication, but no other changes were made in the usual protocol for each visit. After initiation of nedocromil sodium therapy, patients showed better asthma control as measured by improvements in pulmonary function scores and by reduced hospital utilization (both emergency department visits and hospital admissions). It is likely that the improvements in asthma control could result in cost savings, and savings projections for the Canadian health care system were made using the retrospective data collected for asthma-related hospital services. Prospective data are needed to confirm our findings.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Division of Respirology, St. Michael's Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Farrar
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers / Q000191:economics; D017835:Nedocromil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009864:Ontario; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D017835:Nedocromil