title: Use of inhaled corticosteroids and healthcare costs in mild persistent asthma.
abstract: Healthcare costs were determined for mild persistent asthma patients (n=796) who used inhaled corticosteroids infrequently (0 to 2 claims) or consistently (3 or more claims). Study patients, selected from a privately insured claims database (1999-2003), had at least one asthma diagnosis, no diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and mild persistent asthma as defined by the 2005 Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS), Leidy's reliever and oral steroid methods, and the 2004 Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines. Healthcare and asthma-specific costs were significantly higher for the infrequent inhaled corticosteroid users than the consistent users. The infrequent inhaled corticosteroid users had significantly more hospitalizations and emergency department visits compared with consistent users.
authors.affiliation: Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Gene
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colice
authors.forename: Eric Q
authors.initials: EQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Birnbaum
authors.forename: Maham
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daher
authors.forename: Marynchenko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maryna
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019992:Databases as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones