The economic impact of preschool asthma and wheeze

Stevens, C. A., Turner, D., Kuehni, C. E., Couriel, J. M. and Silverman, M. (2003) The economic impact of preschool asthma and wheeze. European Respiratory Journal, 21 (6). pp. 1000-1006. ISSN 0903-1936

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the economic impact in the UK of wheezing disorders in preschool children. Health, societal and family-borne costs were calculated for a sample of 94 preschool children who attended hospital with a primary diagnosis of wheeze or asthma during 1998/1999. Sample costs were calculated using data from a structured interview schedule and from symptom diaries completed by trial parents, patients' general practice and hospital records, and hospital finance data. Health costs for 1–5-yr-olds in the UK were calculated using data from a postal population survey in the same region. It is estimated that 1–5-yr-old children with wheeze in the UK cost the health service a total of 53 million UK pounds (GBP). The greatest expenditure, 34 million GBP, was for primary care, representing 65.2% of total healthcare costs. Prescription costs represented 20.4% (11 million GBP) of total healthcare costs. Caring for preschool children with wheeze in the UK cost the health service 0.15% of its total budget in 1998/1999. The total costs to society of caring for the 0.88% of preschool children who attended hospital for asthma or wheeze in a year represented a further 2.6 million UK pounds. Primary prevention strategies at the population level promise more cost savings than any attempt at decreasing hospitalisations in those more severely ill.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Clinical Trials Unit Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Services and Primary Care Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Economics Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023)
Depositing User:	Users 2731 not found.
Date Deposited:	12 Dec 2012 12:53
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2025 03:39
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/40551
DOI:	10.1183/09031936.03.00057002

Actions (login required)

View Item