Changes in Clinical, Pulmonary Function, Quality of Life and Costs in a Cohort of Asthmatic Patients Followed for 10 Years

Abstract

Few studies have comprehensively assessed the evolution of asthma disease in recent years. Objectives To determine changes in morbidity, lung function and quality of life and to establish the impact in terms of cost in a cohort of patients with asthma. Methods Prospective, descriptive and realistic study that included 220 asthma patients evaluated 10 years after their inclusion (1994–2004). For all the patients, data for symptoms, lung function, quality of life and financial cost were collected. Results There was a decrease in the frequency of health service visits, including: emergency room visits for asthma exacerbations, 0.3 (0.9) versus 0.6 (1) visits per patient per year ( P=.003); a reduction in the severity of the disease, with a greater proportion of patients with mild asthma, 121 (54.8%) versus 94 (42.7%) ( P=.001); a decrease (improvement in quality of life) in the total SGRQ, 30.1 (16.5) versus 37 (19.6) ( P<.001); and reduced total costs, 1464€ (3415.8) compared to 2267€ (4174) per patient/year ( P<.001), mainly due to indirect costs, 617.50€ (2855.9) compared to 1320.10€ (3685.3) per patient/year ( P=.001). When assessing the changes observed according to asthma severity, no differences were observed between groups. Conclusions The evolution of the morbidity and quality of life of asthma patients between 1994 and 2004 are clearly favorable. This improvement provided a significant reduction in the total costs of disease treatment.