| Journal: | Brazilian journal of medical and biological research |
| Database: | PERIÓDICA |
| System number: | 000350917 |
| ISSN: | 0100-879X |
| Authors: | Santos, L.A1 Oliveira, M.A1 Faresin, S.M1 Santoro, I.L1 Fernandes, A.L.G1 |
| Institutions: | 1Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Sao Paulo. Brasil |
| Year: | 2007 |
| Season: | Jul |
| Volumen: | 40 |
| Number: | 7 |
| Pages: | 943-948 |
| Country: | Brasil |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Document type: | Artículo |
| Approach: | Experimental, aplicado |
| English abstract | Asthma is a common chronic illness that imposes a heavy burden on all aspects of the patient's life, including personal and health care cost expenditures. To analyze the direct cost associated to uncontrolled asthma patients, a cross-sectional study was conducted to determine costs related to patients with uncontrolled and controlled asthma. Uncontrolled patient was defined by daytime symptoms more than twice a week or nocturnal symptoms during two consecutive nights or any limitations of activities, or need for relief rescue medication more than twice a week, and an ACQ score less than 2 points. A questionnaire about direct cost stratification in health services, including emergency room visits, hospitalization, ambulatory visits, and asthma medications prescribed, was applied. Ninety asthma patients were enrolled (45 uncontrolled/45 controlled). Uncontrolled asthmatics accounted for higher health care expenditures than controlled patients, US$125.45 and US$15.58, respectively [emergency room visits (US$39.15 vs US$2.70) and hospitalization (US$86.30 vs US$12.88)], per patient over 6 months. The costs with medications in the last month for patients with mild, moderate and severe asthma were US$1.60, 9.60, and 25.00 in the uncontrolled patients, respectively, and US$6.50, 19.00 and 49.00 in the controlled patients. In view of the small proportion of uncontrolled subjects receiving regular maintenance medication (22.2%) and their lack of resources, providing free medication for uncontrolled patients might be a cost-effective strategy for the public health system |
| Disciplines: | Medicina |
| Keyword: | Neumología, Salud pública, Asma, Atención a la salud, Costo de tratamiento, Servicios de salud |
| Keyword: | Medicine, Pneumology, Public health, Asthma, Health care, Treatment cost, Health services |
| Full text: | Texto completo (Ver HTML) |
