The Business Case for Better Asthma Management
Recent Findings
Results from a recent national survey conducted by The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and AstraZeneca, show that many people with asthma are not managing their condition as well as they could be. The study revealed an alarming disconnect: Two thirds of asthma patients reported that they had their asthma condition under control, however over half of asthma patients reported symptoms at least once a week.1 When people with asthma are compliant with appropriate controller medications, they experience only occasional symptoms. In addition, one third of asthma patients reported that they used their rescue inhaler at least once per day in the past four weeks, (i.e., at least 28 times).2 Finally, 54% of patients with asthma reported that they wished they knew more about asthma treatment options.2 All of these findings underscore the need for better education about asthma management.
Asthma
An estimated 20 million Americans have asthma.3 Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that causes inflammation in a person's airways, thus restricting breathing. Symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing.4 Asthma attacks are occurrences when symptoms become worse than usual. Asthma attacks are caused by triggers such as a cold or respiratory infection, environmental irritants or allergens such as secondhand smoke or animal dander, or even stress.5 Asthma attacks can be fatal, as airways may become so inflamed that vital organs do not receive enough oxygen.4
There is no cure for asthma, but it can be controlled. Doctors can help patients monitor their disease by helping them learn their specific triggers for asthma attacks, and by prescribing effective medications that help with both the long-term management of the disease and medications for quick relief. Doctor-patient collaboration is extremely important in developing a self-management plan and an emergency plan.
Children and Asthma
Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children; it affects approximately 6.3 million in the United States.6 Asthma takes its toll on children by affecting more than just their health; it affects their ability to learn as well. Asthma is the leading cause of missed school in America and is responsible for over 14 million missed school days each year.6 The disease disproportionately affects children from low-income populations, minorities and children in inner cities. In addition, children with asthma affect the productivity of their parents. In 1996, parent's' lost of productivity due to their child's asthma related absence from school resulted in $719.1 million.7
The Business Case for Asthma Management
The cost of asthma:
- Asthma results in $18 billion in annual direct and indirect costs in the United States ($10 and $8 billion respectively).3 Hospitalizations amount for the largest amount of direct costs.
- Employers feel the detrimental affects of asthma as it causes approximately 15 million lost workdays annually, amounting to $3 billion in lost productivity (this number is reflected in the indirect costs above).3
- Asthma is the fourth leading cause of work absenteeism.3
In order to avoid the costly repercussions of poor asthma management, employers should:
- Ensure that formularies include a wide range of asthma medications and equipment.
- Encourage employees with asthma to get the flu vaccination by providing the flu vaccine onsite for employees and their families, or ensuring that health plans cover vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that adults and children with asthma receive the flu vaccination.8
- Educate employees about asthma through health education materials or "brown bag" lunches.
- Ensure that your worksite is asthma-friendly by banning smoking in the workplace, as secondhand smoke is an irritant for people with asthma. Likewise, support smoking cessation programs for your employees. Women who smoke during pregnancy and parents who smoke in their homes are more likely to have children that suffer from asthma.9
- Encourage employees to have a written asthma management plan. This should include both a daily self-management plan and an emergency action plan in the case of sudden asthma attack. Plans should include what medications to take, dosage amounts, signs and symptoms of asthma attacks, emergency phone numbers and contacts, etc.
For more information about the survey and the full results visit: www.asthmagap.com.
References:
- Asthma G.A.P. About the Survey. Available at: http://www.asthmagap.com/index.asp. Accessed October 25, 2007.
- Asthma G.A.P. Key Findings. Available at: http://www.asthmagap.com/keyfindings.asp. Accessed November 8, 2007.
- Williams S. Powell O (2001). Asthma management in the workplace. Business & Health. 18(5); 44; Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) (2004). Asthma facts and figures. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&sub=42. Accessed November 8, 2007.
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. What is Asthma? Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_WhatIs.html. Accessed November 8, 2007.
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. What Causes Asthma? Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_Causes.html. Accessed November 8, 2007.
- National Committee for Quality Assurance. The State of Health Care Quality. 2005: Industry Trends and Analysis. Available at: http://www.ncqa.org/Docs/SOHCQ_2005.pdf. Accessed November 12, 2007.
- Wang LY, Zhong Y, Wheeler L. Direct and Indirect costs of asthma is school-age children. Preven Chronic Sis. January 2005. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/jan/04_0053.htm. Accessed on November 12, 2007.
- Fiore A, Shay D, Haber P, Iskander J, Uyeki T, Mootrey G, Bresee J, Cox N. Prevention and Control of Influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2007. MMWR. July 13 2007/ 56(RR06);1-54.
- Campell KP, editor. Investing in Maternal and Child Health: An Employer's Toolkit. Washington DC: Center for Prevention and Health Services, National Business Group on Health; 2007.
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