The Economic Burden of Asthma in Greece: A Cross-Sectional Study

Katerina Vellopoulou, Petros Bakakos, Stelios Loukides, Nikos Maniadakis and Georgia Kourlaba ()
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Katerina Vellopoulou: EVROSTON LP
Petros Bakakos: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Sotiria Chest Diseases Hospital
Stelios Loukides: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon General Hospital
Nikos Maniadakis: National School οf Public Health
Georgia Kourlaba: EVROSTON LP

Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 2019, vol. 17, issue 5, No 5, 629-640

Abstract: Abstract Background The high prevalence rates of asthma worldwide and the chronic nature of the disease make asthma a major cause of morbidity, imposing a significant socio-economic burden in many countries. Specifically in Greece, the self-reported prevalence of asthma reached 9% in 2017. Objectives The objective of this study was to estimate the total management cost of asthma in Greece and its potential determinants. Methods A population-based, random-digit-dialed telephone nationwide survey was conducted to recruit patients with asthma in Greece (n = 353). A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic and lifestyle characteristics, exacerbations, asthma control, medical resource utilization, and productivity loss during the past 12 months. The total annual direct cost from the societal, payer, and patient perspective as well as the indirect cost was calculated. All costs refer to the year 2017 (€). The significance level was set to α = 0.05. Results The mean (95% confidence interval) annual total cost per patient for asthma management from the societal, payer, and patient perspective was €895 (696–1105), €673 (497–861), and €151 (119–188), respectively. The direct medical cost accounted for almost 90% of the total cost, whereas only 4% was attributed to the indirect cost. The direct medical cost was mainly driven by the medication cost (48%). The total annual societal cost was statistically significantly higher in those with not well-controlled asthma (p = 0.014) and those experiencing exacerbations during the past 12 months (p

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1007/s40258-019-00469-4

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