This analysis of the cost of asthma in Spain includes both direct health care costs and indirect costs arising from illness.
Patients and MethodsProspective, 12-month observational cohort study of adult patients with asthma diagnosed according to the guidelines of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and the adapted Spanish criteria (GEMA). We recorded information on health care resources utilized (medications, medical visits, emergency care, hospital admissions, and tests) and indirect costs (patient travel or transfer costs and workdays lost).
ResultsA total of 627 patients throughout Spain were studied. Of these, 21.2% had intermittent asthma, 24.6% mild asthma, 27.6% moderate asthma, and 26.6% severe asthma. The total societal cost of asthma (including indirect costs) was €1726 (95% confidence interval [CI], €1314-€2154) per patient annually. Indirect costs accounted for 11.2% of the total. The cost to the National Health Service was €1533 (95% CI, €1133-€1946) per patient annually. The cost of asthma was higher for patients older than 65 years (€2079) and for those with more severe disease (€959 for intermittent asthma; €1598, mild asthma; €1553, moderate asthma; and €2635 severe asthma). Based on these findings, the total annual cost of asthma in Spain is estimated to be €1480 million (95% CI, €382-€2565 million) for patients with demonstrated bronchial hyperreactivity and €3022 million (95% CI, €2472-€3535 million) for patients diagnosed based on symptoms alone.
ConclusionsThe average annual cost of asthma in adults in Spain comes to €1726 per patient, considering both direct and indirect costs from a societal perspective. The average annual cost per patient to the National Health Service is €1533.
Se ha realizado un estudio del consumo de recursos y de los costes derivados, tanto sanitarios como no sanitarios, en el paciente asmático en España.
Pacientes y métodosSe trata de un estudio prospectivo y observacional de cohortes, en pacientes asmáticos adultos, diagnosticados según los criterios de GINA/GEMA y seguidos durante 12 meses. Se recogieron datos sobre recursos sanitarios (consumo de medicamentos, consultas médicas, visitas a urgencias, ingresos hospitalarios y pruebas) y no sanitarios (desplazamientos de los pacientes y pérdidas de jornadas laborales).
ResultadosParticiparon 627 pacientes de toda España, con asma intermitente (21,2%), leve (24,6%), moderada (27,6%) y grave (26,6%). Desde la perspectiva de la sociedad (incluyendo los recursos no sanitarios), el coste anual de un paciente con asma asciende a 1.726 € (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 1.314-2.154). El 11,2% del gasto corresponde a recursos no sanitarios. Para el Sistema Nacional de Salud el gasto por paciente es de 1.533 € (IC del 95%, 1.133-1.946). El coste es superior en los pacientes mayores de 65 años (2.079 €) y en aquéllos con asma de mayor gravedad (959; 1.598; 1.553, y 2.635 € para asma intermitente, leve, moderada y grave, respectivamente). De acuerdo con estos resultados, se estima que el coste anual del asma en España es de 1.480 millones de euros (IC del 95%, 382-2.565 millones) y de 3.022 millones de euros (IC del 95%, 2.472-3.535 millones) considerando el diagnóstico por hiperreactividad bronquial y sólo sintomático, respectivamente.
ConclusionesEl coste anual medio del paciente asmático adulto en España asciende a 1.726 y a 1.533 € desde la perspectiva de la sociedad y del Sistema Nacional de Salud, respectivamente.
