Sections
Log in
Top News
U.S. News World News Featured Voices
Odd News
Entertainment
Movies Music TV
Sports
Soccer NFL NBA MLB NHL Golf Horse Racing Tennis Col. Football Col. Basketball
Photos
News Entertainment Sports Features Archives
More...
Defense Featured Science Health Archive Almanac
About Feedback
About Feedback
Search
Trending
Julian Edelman
EPA
Venezuela
Push-up test
Saudi prisoners
AAF
Anthony Weiner
Darren Criss
Denny Hamlin
Amazon
Airplane birth
Health News
Aug. 7, 2011 / 12:46 AM

Poorly controlled asthma doubles costs

DENVER, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Asthma in children that is poorly controlled more than doubles the cost of treating it and hurts their school performance, U.S. researchers say.

Dr. Stanley Szefler, a professor of pediatrics at National Jewish Health who led the study, and colleagues studied 628 children ages 6-12 with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma.

The researchers evaluated direct medical costs -- medications, unscheduled office and emergency visits, and hospital admissions -- and indirect costs such as school days lost.

Costs were evaluated at baseline, 12 months and 24 months. Patients were divided into three groups -- very poorly controlled, not well-controlled and well-controlled asthma, using National Institute of Health guidelines.

Very poorly controlled asthma patients incurred at baseline an average of $7,846 in costs associated with asthma, compared with $3,526 for not well controlled asthma patients and $3,766 for well-controlled asthma.

Two years later, costs for very poorly controlled asthma patients increased to $8,880 while costs for those with well-controlled asthma dropped to $1,861. All costs are in 2002 dollars and costs in 2011 dollars would be about 25 percent greater, the researchers say.

The study, published in The Archives of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, finds children with very poorly controlled asthma finds missed an average of 18 days of school each year, compared with two or less for other asthma patients.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more UPI news and photos.

Trending Stories

Number of push-ups men can do in a row may indicate heart health
HPV unlikely to be spread by hands, researchers say
FDA approves first customizable insulin pump
Smoking may hurt body's fight against skin cancer
Up to hour of general anesthesia safe for infants: Study

Photo Gallery

 
Palestinians celebrate Valentine's Day

Latest News

Dallas Cowboys WR Terrance Williams to become free agent
MLB to use pitch clock during spring training; could be added in regular season
Jacksonville Jaguars exercise DL Calais Campbell's option, decline another
Trump: Maduro supporters 'risking their lives, Venezuela's future'
Police seize tractor caught drag racing motorcycles
 
Back to Article
/
Back to top
About UPI Contact Feedback Advertisements Submit News Tips
Copyright © 2019 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of UsePrivacy Policy