Abstract
Wheezing is an important health problem in Thailand. Estimating costs of wheezing treatment in preschool children under societal, provider and patient’s perspectives were also studied. Cost data of 234 six participants who admitted with asthma and wheezing at Thammasat hospital, King Chulalongkorn Memorial hospital, Bhumiphol hospital and Saraburi hospital were available for this analysis. Data from hospital financial database and caregivers’ expenses were collected. Cost-to-charge ratio method was employed for valuation of direct medical costs.Informal care cost was determined by human capital approach. It is found that societal, provider and patient costs per admission were 20,269±20,537, 18,126±16,898 และ 3,119±6,655THB, respectively. The main cost component in all perspective was hoteling cost during admission. The economic burden of asthma and wheezing admission of preschool children in Thailand was estimated as 759 million THB per year. To decrease length of stay and admission rate will save costs of asthma and wheezing care in preschool children.
The participants in this study were 240 pediatric patients hospitalized with acute wheezing in Thammasat hospital, King Chulalongkorn Memorial hospital, Bhumiphol hospital and Saraburi hospital. The participants were boys (62.7 %), recurrent wheezing (59.1%). According to laboratory results, Atopy (specific IgE level >0.35 kUA/L of any allergens being tested) was found in 75.5 percent. He highest prevalence of hypersensitivity was cow’s milk protein (75.5%), following by egg’s white (52.9%). Vitamin D insufficiency (25-hydroxy-vitamin D level < 30 ng/ml) was found in 24.8 percent. Concerning 12 months of follow-up, completed data for analysis was available in 195 cases (81.3%). The one-year incidence of re-hospitalization with acute wheezing was 23.1 percent (95% confidence interval: 17.5% - 30.0%). The one-year incidence of emergency visits with recurrent wheezing was 49.7 percent (95% confidence interval: 42.5% - 57.0%).
