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Costs of managing asthma as defined by a derived Asthma Control Test^TM score in seven European countries

D. Vervloet^*, A. E. Williams^#, A. Lloyd^|| and T. J. H. Clark

^* Hôpital Sainte-Marguerite, ‘UPRES 3287’, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseilles, France, ^# GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, Greenford, ^|| Fourth Hurdle Consulting, London, and National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK.

CORRESPONDENCE: T. J. H. Clark, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6LY, UK. Fax: 44 2073515675. E-mail: t.clark{at}imperial.ac.uk

The present authors explored the relationship between asthma control status, as measured by a derived Asthma Control Test^TM (ACT) score, and the utilisation and cost of healthcare in Europe.

Data were derived from a European survey of asthma patients. Frequency of healthcare resource use was identified from the dataset and per-patient mean cost of asthma management estimated. Drug costs were not available. The ACT score was derived from questions in the survey identical or similar to the items comprising the ACT.

An ACT score was derived for 2,268 patients, of whom 48% (1,078) scored <20, suggesting their asthma was not well controlled, with 17% (381) scoring <15, suggesting poorly controlled asthma. The mean per-patient annual cost of asthma management for patients with a derived ACT of <15 was 1,604 (95% confidence interval: 1,219–2,084); for patients with a derived ACT score of 15–19, 512 (404–660) and for patients with a derived ACT score of 20, 232 (192–286). A higher derived ACT score was associated with significantly lower expenditure on asthma management.

Worse asthma control, as measured by the derived Asthma Control Test^TM score was associated with an increased requirement for unscheduled care and with higher cost.

KEYWORDS: Asthma, asthma control, Europe, healthcare costs