Clinical Characteristics and Economic Burden of Asthma in China: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
Abstract Background: Asthma is a common chronic airway inflammation that produces a healthcare burden on the economy.Objective: To obtain a better understanding of the clinical status and disease burden of patients with asthma in China. Methods: A retrospective study based on the computerized medical records in the Jinan Health Medical Big Data Platform between 2011 and 2019 (n = 31,082) was carried out. The asthma severity of each patient was assessed retrospectively and categorized as mild, moderate, or severe according to GINA 2018. Results: The results revealed that the majority (75.0%) of patients suffered from mild asthma. Patients treated with ICS/LABA at emergency department visits had lower frequencies of exacerbations in the following year compared with non-ICS/LABA treated patients.The incidence rates for 1 exacerbation are 14.49% vs 15.01 for the patients treated with ICS/LABA and without. The rates are 11.94% and 19.12% for 2 exacerbations above. The numbers are 6.51% vs 12.92% for 3 exacerbations above. The rates are 4.10% vs 9.35% for 4 exacerbations above. Also the difference got the statistical significance (p <0.001), COPD and GRED, two comorbidities related to asthma, were risk factors for asthma exacerbation. Finally, patients who suffered from exacerbations produced a heavier economic burden compared to the patients who never suffered exacerbations(mean costs are ¥3,339.67 vs ¥968.45 separately). Conclusions: These results provide a reference for clinicians and patients to obtain a better treatment and therapy strategy management for asthma sufferers.