OBJECTIVES :

Asthma has a substantial impact on the quality of life, productivity, and healthcare use. It occurs more frequently in the urban population due to environmental exposures, socioeconomic status, and healthcare access. In recent decades, the urban population in India has increased thus increasing the burden of asthma. Further, a considerable number of patients with severe asthma have an inadequate response to treatment leading to exacerbation posing an even higher burden on the healthcare system. However, studies measuring the current economic burden of asthma in the urban population of India are scarce. The present study aims to estimates the current economic burden of asthma in the urban adult population across India.

METHODS :

A cost of illness calculator was developed to assess the direct burden in terms of medication cost, hospitalization cost and monitoring cost for adults with asthma residing in urban parts of India. Using all accessible data from multiple sources, a targeted literature review was conducted to extract the inputs for the calculator.

RESULTS :

The study estimated the current economic burden of severe asthma in the urban adult population across in the range of 150-170 Billion INR (~2 Billion USD). The burden was mainly attributed to the medication cost followed by the hospitalization cost.

CONCLUSIONS :

Asthma tends to place a significantly high economic burden on the urban population in India. With the increasing burden on healthcare system due to Covid-19, a cost-effective policy intervention providing access to preventative care, and timely treatment for asthma is a pressing priority in India.