Economic burden of asthma: a systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Asthma is associated with enormous healthcare expenditures that include both direct and indirect costs. It is also associated with the loss of future potential earnings related to both morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study is to determine the burden of disease costs associated with asthma.


METHODS
We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CDSR, OHE-HEED, and Web of Science Databases between 1966 and 2008.


RESULTS
Sixty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Hospitalization and medications were found to be the most important cost driver of direct costs. Work and school loss accounted for the greatest percentage of indirect costs. The cost of asthma was correlated with comorbidities, age, and disease severity.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the availability of effective preventive therapy, costs associated with asthma are increasing. Strategies including education of patients and physicians, and regular follow-up are required to reduce the economic burden of asthma.
Bahadori
Katayoun
K
Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Evaluation (C2E2), UBC, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Cbahadori@yahoo.ca
Doyle-Waters
Mary M
MM
Marra
Carlo
C
Lynd
Larry
L
Alasaly
Kadria
K
Swiston
John
J
FitzGerald
J Mark
JM
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000401:mortality*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents