Agency News and Notes

Drug expenses for children with asthma more than doubled in 10 years

The percentage of American children treated for asthma increased, while their annual drug expenses more than doubled over a 10-year period, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. According to data from the Federal agency that compared the 1997-1998 and 2007-2008 time periods:

Average annual percentage of American children treated for asthma increased from 4.7 percent to 6.1 percent.
Average annual prescription drug expenses for a child with asthma more than doubled, from $349 to $838.
Children ages 5 to 11 years were more likely to be treated for asthma than children ages 12 to 17.
Overall average annual health care expenses per child with asthma increased 37 percent, from $1,827 to $2,503.

The data in this AHRQ News and Numbers summary are taken from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a detailed source of information on the health services used by Americans, the frequency with which they are used, the cost of those services, and how they are paid. For more information, go to Statistical Brief 332: Health Expenditures among Children with Reported Treatment for Asthma, United States, 1997-1998 and 2007-2008.
For additional information, or to speak with an AHRQ data expert, please contact Linwood Norman at Linwood.Norman@ahrq.hhs.gov or call (301) 427-1248.

Research Activities, September 2011: Agency News and Notes: Drug expenses for children with asthma more than doubled in 10 years: - Enviado mediante la barra Google