title: Sequential evaluation of the national medical expenditures for asthma care in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been reported that the prevalence of asthma is on the rise in various countries; but studies on its effects on national medical expenditures are scarce.
  
  
  METHODS
  From the outcome of the "Estimates of National Medical Care Expenditures" and "Patient Survey" compiled by the Statistics and Information Department, Minister's secretariat, the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan, medical expenditures on asthmatic patients in Japan were sequentially examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that the percentage of asthmatic patients to the general medical care expenditures has been on the steady increase. A closer examination revealed that the percentage of asthmatic outpatients receiving care increased while those receiving care as inpatients decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relationships between the percentage of the number of asthmatic patients utilizing medical services and the expenditures for their care differed between inpatients and outpatients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanihara
authors.forename: Yasuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics; D017281:Cost of Illness; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence