Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2018 Jul;10(4):370-378. 10.4168/aair.2018.10.4.370.

Economic Burden of the Inadequate Management of Allergic Rhinitis and Urticaria in Asian Countries Based on the GA²LEN Model

• Kulthanan
• Chusakul S
• Recto MT
• Gabriel MT
• Aw DC
• Prepageran N
• Wong A
• Leong JL
• Foong H
• Quang VT
• Zuberbier

• KMID: 2421671
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2018.10.4.370

Abstract

PURPOSE
Across Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, (referred to as Asia) approximately 30-53 million individuals of the 151 million employed suffer from allergic rhinitis (AR) and urticaria. It is estimated that approximately 90% of patients with these allergic conditions are insufficiently treated, impacting the socioeconomic burden in terms of absence from work and decreased productivity. This study aims to estimate the socioeconomic burden of allergies in Asia and the cost savings that their adequate management can provide. Due to the limited availability of regional data, this study focused AR and urticaria in selected countries.
METHODS
Published literature, information from statistical bureaus, clinician surveys and extrapolation of selected data from the European Union were used to determine the socioeconomic costs of AR and urticaria.
RESULTS
Many patients in Asia suffer from perennial allergies and experience symptoms of AR and urticaria for up to 298 days per year. An estimate of the indirect costs of patients insufficiently treated for AR and urticaria amounts to USD 105.4 billion a year, which equates to USD 1,137-2,195 per patient due to absenteeism and presenteeism. Adherence to guideline-approved treatment can lead to estimated savings of up to USD 104 billion.
CONCLUSIONS
The current study suggests that within Asia, the socioeconomic impact of AR and urticaria is similar to that seen in the European Union in spite of the lower wages in Asia. This is due to the mainly perennial allergens prevailing in Asia, whereas the sensitization patterns observed in the European Union are dominated by seasonal exposure to pollen. These results underline the need for governmental initiatives to increase public awareness on the prevention and treatment of these and other allergic diseases as well as greater research funding and large-scale studies to reduce their growing socioeconomic burden in coming years.

Keyword

Allergic rhinitis; urticaria; socioeconomic costs

MeSH Terms

Absenteeism
Allergens
Asia
Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
Cost Savings
Efficiency
European Union
Financial Management
Hong Kong
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Income
Malaysia
Philippines
Pollen
Presenteeism
Rhinitis, Allergic*
Salaries and Fringe Benefits
Seasons
Singapore
Thailand
Urticaria*
Vietnam
Allergens

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