OBJECTIVES : The prevalence of asthmatic diseases has shown a continuously increasing tendency, consequently, besides the individual disease burden these diseases are a significant burden for the society as well. The aim of our study was to determine the epidemiological disease burden of non-allergic asthma.

METHODS : Data were derived from the financial database of the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund Administration (NHIFA), for the year 2018. Data analysed included annual patient numbers, case numbers and prevalence of care utilisation per 100,000 population according to age groups and sex. The following health insurance treatment categories were included into our study: general practice care, home care, in- and outpatient care, medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, drugs and medical aids. Patients with non-allergic asthma were identified with the following code of the International Classification of Diseases 10^th revision: J4510.

RESULTS : The highest national patient numbers were in use of pharmaceuticals: 6,119 men and 13,387 women in total 19,506patients, followed by outpatient care (5,772 men and 13,081women, in total 18,853), and general practice care (5,474 men and 12,441 women, in total 17,915).Based on patient numbers with regards to pharmaceuticals, prevalence in 100,000 among men was 131.08 patients, among women 262.14 patients, in total 199.48 patients. As regards sex distribution in the use of pharmaceuticals 31.37% of patients were men and 68.63% were women, in outpatient care 30.62% were men and 69.38% were women, while in general practice care men accounted for 30,56%, women for 69.44% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS : Prevalence of non-allergic asthma was found to be 2.0-times higher among women, than among men. The reason for high patient numbers found in the use of pharmaceuticals is attributable to the progression of the disease and relief of symptoms are primarily achieved with pharmacotherapy.