Clinical factors influencing asthma direct cost in children and adolescents with mild to moderate asthma.

Estimation of asthma direct costs in children

Résumé

Asthma imposes a substantial economic burden on the health care system and community worldwide. Annual direct asthma cost and
the factors that influence this cost are not yet addressed in Tunisia, particularly in the pediatric population. This study aimed to identify
clinical factors determining the annual direct cost of pediatric asthma. The current study was cross-sectional, carried out in Farhat Hached University Hospital in Sousse, Tunisia, over three months among children with asthma aged 7-17 years. Asthma direct cost was defined as the cost of healthcare resources utilization and medication related to asthma in the past 12 months. Multiple regression was performed to examine the association between total asthma direct cost and clinical factors. Ninety children with mild to moderate asthma were included in the study. The findings showed that 67.8% were 7-11 years and 55.6% were boys. The annual mean of total direct asthma cost was $616.71±454. Multiple regression showed that severity of asthma (B1= 402.473, 95% CI 163.414 to 641.532, p=0.001), medication adherence (B2= -265.656, 95% CI -434.194 to -97.118, p=0.002), and quality of life of children (B3= -103.257, 95% CI -173.687 to -32.828, p=0.005) were significantly associated with asthma direct cost. In conclusion, this study underlined the substantial economic burden of mild to moderate asthma in Tunisian children and adolescents. Asthma direct cost increased with asthma severity stage, suboptimal medication adherence, and impaired quality of life. Asthma management action plans are needed to limit asthma direct cost.