The study compared the health cost and effectiveness of single asthma controller therapies with other asthma regimens.
96,631 asthma sufferers were included in the study. Data on their prescriptions, health care utilization, and total medical costs from 2002-2004 were examined.
Researchers found that costs were significantly lower for asthma sufferers using a single controller inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) than for those using single controller leukotriene modifiers, long-acting beta-agonists, theophylline, and most combination controller regimens. Results also showed that the use of a single controller ICS was associated with significantly lower asthma-related utilization of health care services than single controller leukotriene modifiers and combination controllers.
The findings back the national asthma guidelines, which recommend single controller ICS for asthma control.
The study, “Asthma costs and utilization in a managed care organization,” can be found in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI).
