Healthcare costs associated with allergic rhinitis, asthma and allergy immunotherapy
Show more: Authors information and Publication history
Authors Information
Show more: Authors information and History 1TU Dresden, Center for Evidence-based Healthcare, Dresden, Germany
2ALK Abelló, Hørsholm, Denmark
History
:
Published online: 9 December 2019
Accepted. 2 December 2019
Received: 26 June 2019
SUMMARY
Allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma are chronic diseases in which the airways become inflamed in response to allergens. Allergy immunotherapy (AIT) is recommended for those unable to manage symptoms using pharmacotherapy. This study estimated healthcare costs and utilisation for patients with AR and asthma. Mean annual outpatient visits, pharmaceutical costs and inpatient hospitalisations were calculated for 2010 and 2014, with pharmaceutical and inpatient costs stratified by AIT use. AR and asthma patients had a 35% higher mean number of physician visits and up to 90% higher mean pharmaceutical costs compared to controls. The cost of pharmaceuticals and inpatient hospitalisations were 54% lower in those prescribed AIT. Further research is recommended to understand the reasons for these cost differences.
