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The European Journal of Health Economics
Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics 2/2016

Open Access 01-03-2016 | Original Paper

Healthcare costs and resource utilization of asthma in Germany: a claims data analysis

Authors: Christian Jacob, Benno Bechtel, Susanne Engel, Peter Kardos, Roland Linder, Sebastian Braun, Wolfgang Greiner

Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics | Issue 2/2016

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Abstract

Introduction

Asthma is associated with a substantial economic burden on the German Statutory Health Insurance.

Aims and objectives

To determine costs and resource utilization associated with asthma and to analyze the impact of disease severity on subgroups based on age and gender.

Methods

A claims database analysis from the statutory health insurance perspective was conducted. Patients with an ICD-10-GM code of asthma were extracted from a 10 % sample of a large German sickness fund. Five controls for each asthma patient matched by age and gender were randomly selected from the same database. Costs and resource utilization were calculated for each individual in the asthma and control group. Incremental asthma-related costs were calculated as the mean cost difference. Based on prescribed asthma medication, patients were classified as intermittent or persistent. In addition, age groups of ≤5, 6–18, and >18 years were analyzed separately and gender differences were investigated.

Results

Overall, 49,668 individuals were included in the asthma group. On average, total annual costs per patient were €753 higher (p = 0.000) compared to the control group (€2,168 vs. €1,415). Asthma patients had significantly higher (p = 0.000) outpatient (€217), inpatient (€176), and pharmacy costs (€259). Incremental asthma-related total costs were higher for patients with persistent asthma compared to patients with intermittent asthma (€1,091 vs. €408). Women aged >18 years with persistent asthma had the highest difference in costs compared to their controls (€1,207; p < 0.0001). Corresponding healthcare resource utilization was significantly higher in the asthma group (p = 0.000).

Conclusions

The treatment of asthma is associated with an increased level of healthcare resource utilization and significantly higher healthcare costs. Asthma imposes a substantial economic burden on sickness funds.
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Metadata
Title
Healthcare costs and resource utilization of asthma in Germany: a claims data analysis
Authors
Christian Jacob
Benno Bechtel
Susanne Engel
Peter Kardos
Roland Linder
Sebastian Braun
Wolfgang Greiner
Publication date
01-03-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
The European Journal of Health Economics / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 1618-7598
Electronic ISSN: 1618-7601
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-015-0671-3

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