Objective: To analyze the economic burden of respiratory diseases in a middle-aged and older population in China with the data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), in order to provide references for formulating medical insurance policies by health departments.

Methods: The direct medical expense, direct non-medical expense, and self-medication expense in a middle-aged and older population in China were calculated by the data of the CHARLS done in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018.

Results: The prevalence rate of respiratory diseases in a middle-aged and older population showed a decline between 2011 to 2018 with significant age, gender, and regional differences. In terms of the utilization of health services, the monthly self-medication rate was close to 60%, much higher than the monthly outpatient rate, and the annual hospitalization rate fluctuated around 20%. Although there was a rising trend of the direct medical expense, direct non-medical expense, and self-medication expense in the annual economic burden, the proportion of out-of-pocket expense by patients was decreased from 76.9% in 2011 to 72.3% in 2018.

Conclusion: There is a heavier direct medical expense of respiratory diseases in a middle-aged and older population in China and the annual outpatient expense was higher than the annual hospitalization expense.