OBJECTIVES: To estimate out-of-pocket health expenditures and loss of productivity in patients with asthma.  METHODS: Subjects attending to five public primary health care centers and the University Hospital were screened for eligibility by physicians of the research staff between June 2010 and March 2011 in Cartagena, Colombia (WAO Journal 2015;8:8). Individuals diagnosed with asthma were included in the study. A sample of 194 patients resulted from the screening. A previously standardized and validated instrument was used to collect information regarding asthma symptoms, sociodemographic characteristics and out of pocket health (OOP) expenditures. Cost were converted to American dollars using mean exchange rate 2011. RESULTS: In this sample of asthmatic patients, hierbatero or homeopaths). Fifty nine percent (59.0%) reported monthly OOP expenditures due to asthma (median: $US 16.2, IQR: 46.0; 1.7 daily minimum wage). Those attending ER in the last year had greater OOP (mean: US$ 45.9, 95% CI 34.8 – 57.2) than those who did not (mean: US$ 23.4, 95% CI: 15.5 – 31.3, p = 0.02). Almost half of patients (47.9%) reported to have missed work/school days due to asthma (median: 5 days in the last 6 months, IQR: 8).  CONCLUSIONS: : As observed in most low- and middle-income countries, poor control of asthma was frequent in this study. This is associated with important epidemiologic and economic burden for patients as well as the health system. Colciencias Grant 590-2013.