The costs of adult asthma in Denmark

Introduction and background: Asthma is often associated with health deterioration and reduced working capacity resulting in health-related and productivity costs. Population-based studies on the economic burden of asthma on society and individuals are limited. Aims and objectives: To estimate the extra costs to society due to adult asthma in Denmark. Methods: In a population-based cross-sectional asthma survey, 6,950 (70%) individuals aged 20-44 completed an extended ECRHS screening questionnaire. Subjects with current asthma were identified by questions on currently taking any asthma medication, having had an attack of asthma or doctor diagnosed asthma plus asthma-like symptoms during the last 12 months. Employment status was defined by current or last held job. The analyses were based on data on individual level extracted from national registers. The direct (health care) costs were estimated by means of multiple regression models. The productivity costs due to absenteeism were estimated using the human capital approach. Results: The prevalence of current asthma was 7.7% in males and 10.6% in females. The total average annual extra costs per asthmatic subject in comparison with non-asthmatic subjects were € 2,081 and € 1,922 for males and females, respectively. Productivity costs were the major component accounting for 85% in males and 70% in females. Hospital care expenditures accounted for the greatest percentage of the direct costs in both gender. We extrapolated the average annual costs associated with current asthma to € 352 million in the entire Danish population aged 20-44. Conclusions: The economic burden of asthma in Denmark is substantial and primarily due to productivity costs accounting for three quarters of the total costs.