[Influence of the difference in the pollen count on medical costs in an allergen-specific immunotherapy for Japanese cedar pollinosis].
BACKGROUND
We studied medical economic efficacy and influence by the different number of pollen scattering in patients treated with allergen-specific immunotherapy for Japanese cedar pollinosis.


METHODS
We calculated medical treatment costs and the medicine expense from medical records in eighteen cedar pollinosis patients treated with allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT-G) and with medications (M-G). We examined with the same patients for three years of different pollen scattering, mass scattering year (2005), moderate scattering year (2003), a few scattering year (2004). Furthermore, satisfaction of treatment and symptom score measured by visual analog scale in both subjects was studied in a mass scattering year.


RESULTS
Total medical costs at hospital was cheaper in IT-G than in M-G. The result was depended on prescribed medical costs. In addition, prescribed medicine agents and total medical costs did not increase by the mass scattering year of pollen. Satisfaction of treatment and symptom score in IT-G was better than that in M-G.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunotherapy had a benefit on a medical economy.
Yuta
Atsushi
A
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine. yuta-a@clin.medic-u.ac.jp
Miyamoto
Yukiko
Y
Hattori
Reiko
R
Ogihara
Hitomi
H
Takeuchi
Kazuhiko
K
Majima
Yuichi
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D032485:Cryptomeria; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D000393:Air Pollutants; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating