Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice

Cost analysis of childhood asthma in Iran: A cost evaluation based on referral center data for asthma and allergies

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Mohammad Ali Rezvanfar 1
. Abbas Kebriaeezadeh 1
. Mostafa Moein 2
. Shekoufeh Nikfar 1
. Zahra Gharibnaseri 1
. Akbar Abdollahi-Asl 1

1 Departments of Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmaceutical Administration, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Objective: Asthma as the most common chronic disease in childhood reduces the quality 
of life of children and their families. We aimed to estimate the cost of managing childhood 
asthma in Iran and to examine its variability depending on asthma severity.
Methods: The cost of asthma was estimated by building a cost assessment model regarding 
the factors that influence the cost of asthma in children including age and sex distribution, 
prevalence of disease severity, level of resource utilization depending on disease severity 
(3 groups of controlled, partly controlled and uncontrolled were defined). The model was 
comprised of both medical (cost of medication, physician visit and respiratory tests) and 
non-medical (transportation and hoteling) costs. Furthermore, the average family income in 
each category was figured and the share of asthma managing costs from the average income 
was calculated in different groups.
Findings: According to model, the total cost of childhood asthma in Iran was around 
516.5 million dollars. Moreover, direct medical cost represented 49% of the total costs, 
among which 66% accounting for medication cost. Direct non-medical costs were estimated 
51% with the majority (93%) expended on transportation. In addition, the mean annual cost 
per child was approximately 466 dollars. In addition, the results indicate the vast majority 
of patients (46%) are categorized in the uncontrolled group.
Conclusion: The cost of childhood asthma in Iran is extremely high comparing to the 
average income of Iranian families in all categories of asthma severity. Considering the high 
amount of transportation cost, the accessibility of asthma treatment does not appear to 
be acceptable. The major source of costs is found to be related to medicine expenditure. 
Since it has been proven that using medicine does not necessarily result in a well-controlled 
disease status, alternative approaches should be considered in asthma management.

Keywords

Childhood asthma
cost analysis
pharmacoeconomics
Iran
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Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice
Volume 2, Issue 4
Autumn 2013
Pages 162-168

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