OBJECTIVES : Prevalence of allergic asthma has shown a continuous increase. It may affect any age group; the major symptoms may negatively impact upon the ability to work and quality of life. The aim of our study was to determine the epidemiological disease burden of 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 allergic asthma were identified with the following code of the International Classification of Diseases 10^threvision: J4500.

RESULTS : The highest national patient numbers were in use of pharmaceuticals: 40,308 men and 59,284 women, in total 99,592 patients, followed by general practice care (38,406 men and 57,969 women, in total 96,375), and outpatient care (26,223men and 43,819 women, in total 70,042). Based on patient numbers regarding pharmaceuticals, prevalence in 100,000 among men was 862.83 patients, among women 1,160.89 patients, in total 1,018.49. As regards sex distribution in the use of pharmaceuticals, 40.47% of patients were men, 59.53% were women, in general practice care 39.85% were men, 60.15% were women, while in outpatient care men accounted for 37.44%, women for 62.56% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS : Prevalence of allergic asthma was found to be slightly lower among men (0.74-times) than among women. The reason for high patient numbers found regarding pharmaceuticals is attributable to the fact that progression of the disease and relief of symptoms are primarily achieved with pharmacotherapy, mainly with the administration of bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs.