title: Direct medical cost of asthma in Ankara, Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been no documented data regarding the cost of asthma in our country.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this 1-year prospective study, we aimed to determine the annual cost of asthma in Ankara, Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Direct medical cost analysis was performed in 118 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean annual direct medical costs of asthma were USD 1,465.7 +/- 111.8 per capita. Medication cost comprised the majority (81%) of the total direct cost. Mean direct medical costs according to the stage of disease were USD 172.5 +/- 51.7, 860.7 +/- 70.2, 1,671.6 +/- 141.8 and 3,491.9 +/- 417.6 for stage 1 (n = 4), 2 (n = 54), 3 (n = 46) and 4 (n = 14) patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this first study to document the cost of asthma for our region, direct cost of asthma was found to be increased with the severity of the illness. Considering the fact that medication cost comprises the major fraction of the direct cost, cost-effectiveness trials to determine the effective treatment with optimal cost for different asthma stages should be the next step.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Department of Chest Diseases, Cebeci Hospital, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. fcelik@dialup.ankara.edu.tr
authors.forename: Gulfem E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Sevim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bavbek
authors.forename: Gulden
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paşaoğlu
authors.forename: Dilşad
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mungan
authors.forename: Oznur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abadoğlu
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harmanci
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Misirligil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004180:Direct Service Costs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology