Late Breaking Abstract - The socio-economic cost of asthma, COPD and chronic bronchitis in Europe

Background: The present study is aimed at providing a real-world evaluation of the economic cost of asthma, COPD and chronic bronchitis among adults in Europe. Methods: A prevalence-based cost-of-illness study was carried out on subjects (aged 39-68 years) with asthma (n=965), COPD (post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < LLN) without asthma (n=196) or chronic bronchitis without asthma/COPD (n=576). These patients were identified in general population samples from 12 countries and were examined in clinical settings in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey III (2010-2013). The cost estimates (doctor visits, clinical tests, drugs/vaccinations, ED visits/hospital admissions, premature retirement/productivity losses/leisure time forgone) were computed from the societal perspective following the bottom-up approach on the basis of rates, wages and prices in 2013 (obtained at the national level from official sources). Results: The mean annual cost per patient with asthma was EUR 1467 (95%CI: 1112-1862) and it was largely driven (56.6%) by premature retirement/productivity losses/leisure time forgone. The cost of COPD ranged from EUR 227 (95%CI: 48-517) among the patients without coexisting chronic cough or phlegm to EUR 1725 (95%CI: 176-3918) among the patients with these symptoms. The cost of chronic bronchitis was EUR 233 (95%CI: 99-415). When the costs due to comorbidities were included in our estimates, the mean annual cost per patient dramatically increased for all diseases (e.g. asthma: EUR 3689; COPD with coexisting chronic cough or phlegm: EUR 4439). Conclusions: Among the European adults, the cost of asthma, COPD and chronic bronchitis is substantial even in patients identified from the general population.