Economic Burden of Mild or Moderate Asthma in Pediatric Patients from the Perspective of Public Health Institutions in Mexico

OBJECTIVES: To identify the utilization of resources and estimate the direct costs of care for pediatric patients with mild and moderate asthma during a 1-year follow-up period from public health institutions perspective in Mexico.

METHODS: In order to obtain and validate information regarding clinical aspects and resource utilization in the treatment of pediatric patients with mild and moderate asthma, a modified two-round Delphi panel method was employed. The study was conducted among children aged ≤5 years, 6 to 12 years, and 12 to 18 years with mild and moderate asthma, for the purpose of determining resource utilization in hospital care.

RESULTS: The final outcomes were presented as the estimated total annual cost of the economic burden of mild and moderate asthma across different age groups. The highest estimated cost for the economic burden of mild and moderate asthma was observed in pediatric patients aged ≤5 years, totaling $90,334.43 MXN. In the group of patients aged 6 to 12 years, the estimated annual cost was $115,995.54 MXN, and finally, in the group of patients aged 12 to 18 years, the estimated annual cost was $104,244.89 MXN.

CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results are valuable for estimating the direct medical costs associated with the care of pediatric patients with mild or moderate asthma in public health institutions in Mexico. The highest estimated diagnostic cost per patient in a year is seen in pediatric patients with moderate asthma aged ≤5 years old. The greatest estimated cost of treatment per patient in one year is in pediatric patients with mild asthma aged 6 to 12 years. Lastly, the highest estimated follow-up cost per patient in one year is among pediatric patients with mild and moderate asthma aged 6 to 12 years.