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Disease Management and Health Outcomes

, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp 161–171 | Cite as

Analysis of Asthma-Related Costs and Patterns of Resource Utilization in a Managed-Care Population

  • Edward P. ArmstrongEmail author
  • Kern Krueger
  • Paul C. Langley
Original Research Article
First Online:

Abstract

Objectives: To identify the asthma prevalence rate, the total healthcare and asthma-related treatment costs, and the medical and pharmacy costs associated with different asthma medication usage patterns in a managed-care organisation (MCO).

Study design and participants: The medical and pharmacy claims databases from a 400 000 member MCO were used. The medical claims database was searched from 1994 to 1996 for patients having at least one asthma medical claim in either the first or second diagnosis field of the medical claims, and the total healthcare and asthma-related costs were determined. A subpopulation with a more restrictive asthma definition was identified and their costs were also determined. In addition, the patterns of drug treatment were identified.

Study perspective: MCO perspective.

Results: The mean total healthcare cost of caring for patients with asthma was significant and approximately twice the mean cost of all patients enrolled in the MCO. Using a broad definition of asthma, the mean (± standard deviation) annual total per patient healthcare cost was $US2511 ± 7314 and the annual asthma-related cost was $US679 ± 2247 (1996 values). Using a more restrictive definition of asthma, the mean annual total per patient healthcare cost was $US2653 ± 5268 and the asthma-related cost was $1026 ± 2447. There appeared to be a low overall use of asthma medications, especially anti-inflammatory formulations; <3% of patients with asthma were high users of anti-inflammatory inhalers.

Conclusions: Patients with asthma are costly to managed-care organizations. Asthma-related costs constitute a minority (<30%) of the costs of caring for these patients, and under utilization of anti-inflammatory products by patients is widespread. Further research is needed to assess the cost impact of different asthma treatment patterns.

Keywords

Asthma Asthma Medication Medical Claim Pharmacy Claim Total Healthcare Cost 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Notes

Acknowledgements

This study was funded through a full research grant from Rhone-Poulenc Rorer to The University of Arizona. No author owns stock in this company. Drs Armstrong and Langley have given presentations and received honoraria from Rhone-Poulenc Rorer.

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Copyright information

© Adis International Limited 2001

Authors and Affiliations

  • Edward P. Armstrong
    • 1
    Email author
  • Kern Krueger
    • 2
  • Paul C. Langley
    • 3
  1. 1.Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of PharmacyThe University of ArizonaTucsonUSA
  2. 2.Department of Pharmacy Care Systems, School of PharmacyAuburn UniversityAuburnUSA
  3. 3.Health Economics3M PharmaceuticalsSt. PaulUSA

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