Measuring the financial burden of acute cough in pre-school children: a cost of illness study.
BACKGROUND



BACKGROUND
Acute cough is a very common symptom presentation among children in primary care and is usually due to respiratory infection, yet its cost is unknown. An estimate of the cost to healthcare providers and parents would aid budgetary decision-making, and provide an insight into the need for interventions to reduce the burden.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the cost per child per episode, and the annual population cost in the UK, of acute cough in pre-school children presenting to primary care.


METHODS



METHODS
Incidence and prevalence-based cost-of-illness study from the perspectives of the UK NHS and of parents and caregivers.


METHODS
11 general practices in Bristol, UK.


METHODS
121 children without known asthma aged 3 to 59 months presenting for the first time with an acute (</= 28 days) cough.


RESULTS
Mean cost per episode to the NHS: pound27.43 (95% CI: pound24.38 - pound30.49). Mean cost per episode to parents and carers: pound14.77 ( pound4.90 - pound24.65). Annual cost to the NHS in the UK: at least pound31.5 m (95% CI: pound28.0 m - pound35.0 m).


CONCLUSIONS
The cost burden on the healthcare provider of acute cough in pre-school children is substantial; the majority of this cost arises from consultations with general practitioners. Parents experience some personal cost through travel and expenditure on over-the-counter preparations, and may suffer significantly if loss of earnings is experienced. There is scope for evaluating interventions designed to reduce this burden.
Hollinghurst
Sandra
S
Academic Unit of Primary Health Care, University of Bristol, 25 Belgrave Road, Clifton, Bristol, UK. s.p.hollinghurst@bristol.ac.uk
Gorst
Catherine
C
Fahey
Tom
T
Hay
Alastair D
AD
D000208:Acute Disease; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003371:Cough / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003657:Decision Making; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology