The economic and human costs of asthma in Scotland

Citation

Neville RG, Hoskins G, Smith B & McCowan C (2003) The economic and human costs of asthma in Scotland. Primary Care Respiratory Journal, 12 (4), pp. 115-118. http://www.thepcrj.org/journ/vol12_4/115_118neville.pdf

Abstract
Aim: To review the human and economic cost of asthma and its impact on the Health Service. Methods: Observational study of 9467 patients of all ages and clinical severity of asthma in 319 Scottish general practices. The 'human cost' was calculated from assessment of symptoms and lifestyle disruption. Direct health care costs were determined from study of health service utilisation. Results: Only 1/3 of patients were free of asthma symptoms when reviewed and 770(12%) reported lost time from work/school due to asthma in the past month. 1916(20%) patients experienced an acute exacerbation in the previous 12 months. 1,412(15%) patients were on medication step zero of the British Thoracic Society (BTS) guidelines, 1660(18%) step one, 4310(45.5%) step-two, 1386(15%) step-three, 594(6%) step-four, and 105(1%) step five. The major component of health service cost was maintenance medication (67% of total). Only 5% of patients received hospital treatment but accounted for 19% of total direct health care spend. Conclusions: The human and economic costs of asthma are substantial and highlight a need to achieve improved clinical outcome. The simplistic data collection markers in the New GP Contract are unlikely to promote favourable change in outcome.

Keywords
Asthma; economics; symptoms; lifestyle; New GP Contract

Journal
Primary Care Respiratory Journal: Volume 12, Issue 4