The Economic Impact That Asthma Has on the Economy and Families

Asthma costs the U.S. economy more than $80 billion annually in medical expenses, days missed from work and school, and deaths, according to research published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

The cost of asthma is one of the most important measures of the burden of the disease. Some estimated costs include:

• The total annual cost of asthma in the United States, including medical care, absenteeism, and mortality, was $81.9 billion.
• The annual per-person medical cost of asthma was $3266, of which: $1830 was for prescriptions $640 for office visits $529 for hospitalizations $176 for hospital outpatient visits $105 for emergency department (ED) care.
• Missed work and school days, combined, cost $3 billion per year, representing 8.7 million workdays and 5.2 million school days.

Asthma can have a significant impact to society as a whole. In order to reduce asthma-related ER visits, hospitalizations, absenteeism, and mortality, we need to support guidelines-based care, expand self-management education, and reduce environmental asthma triggers at homes.

For further information about what you can do to afford asthma medications read here: https://www.verywellhealth.com/patient-assistance-program-for-asthma-medication-200788

Other useful links to learn more about financial impacts of asthma:

1. https://www.ajmc.com/view/cdc-study-puts-economic-burden-of-asthma-at-more-than-80-billion-per-year
   
2. https://www.aafa.org/cost-of-asthma-on-society/
   
3. https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/what-is-asthma/what-if-i-cant-afford-my-asthma-medication/