OBJECTIVES : The high number of patients with allergic asthma means a significant burden for the society as well. Our aim was to determine the annual health insurance treatment cost of allergic asthma in Hungary.

METHODS : Data were derived from the financial database of the NHIFA, for the year 2018. Data analysed included annual health insurance costs, patient numbers and cost distribution calculated for age groups and sex. The following cost categories were included into the study: general practice care, home care, in- and outpatient care, medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and medical aids. Patients with allergic asthma were identified with the following code of the International Classification of Diseases 10^threvision: J4500.

RESULTS : In 2018, the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund Administration spent 5.33 billion Hungarian Forints (HUF) on the treatment of patients with allergic asthma, 19.72 million American Dollars (USD), or 16.71 million Euros (EUR). 36.49% of costs was spent on the treatment of male, while 63.51% on female patients. The highest patient numbers were in use of pharmaceuticals: 40,308 men (40.47%), and 59,284 women (59.53%) in total 99,592 patients. Pharmaceuticals (76.16% of total health insurance costs in men, 75.03% in women), outpatient care (12.02% in men, 11.25% in women) and general practice care (5.58% in men, 5.37% in women) were the main cost drivers, while all other forms of medical care amounted to 6.24% in men and 8.35% in women. Annual health care treatment cost per patient was 48.239 HUF (178 USD/151 EUR) in men and 57.088 HUF (211 USD/179 EUR) in women.

CONCLUSIONS : Pharmaceuticals were the major cost drivers in the treatment of allergic asthma primarily. Major cost drivers showed a minimal difference between men and women. The average annual health insurance costs per patient was 18% higher in women.