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Health Conditions
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Asthma
Who has it?
More than twenty million Americans-8.5 percent under the age of 18 -have asthma. The National Institutes of Health has identified asthma as one of the fastest growing health threats.
Currently, the direct costs of asthma exceed $14.7 billion yearly. Indirect costs (such as lost productivity in the workplace) add another $5 billion, for a total of $19.7 billion when indirect and direct costs are combined. Prescription drugs represent the largest single direct cost, at over $6 billion. Hospitalization accounts for approximately half of all direct expenditures, with 1.8 million emergency room visits in 2005.
Furthermore, it is reported that 80% of all direct medical expenditures for the treatment of asthma can be attributed to only 20% of the people with asthma. Sixty-four percent of these costs were for hospitalization. Aggressive treatment of these high-risk patients can drastically reduce the costs associated with asthma.
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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.
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Who has it?
