Health impact of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: analysis of medico-economic data

Abstract

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is one of the regions most affected by common ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia L in France with more than 5 million persons suspected of being exposed for more than 20 days to significant allergic risk. Our objective was here to carry out an annual medico-economic study quantifying the health impact of the pollinosis to A. artemisiifolia in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, on the basis of the 2017 health care expenditure. Prescription medication reimbursements, other health care expenditures, as well as daily allowances for work stoppage due to ragweed were analysed. The target population was defined as all persons aged 6-74 with social security coverage living in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and having received at least one reimbursement of anti-allergic medicines during the weed pollination period. A distinction was made between highly allergic and probably allergic people. More than 10% of the study population used medical care linked to A. artemisiifolia. A north-south corridor on both sides of the Rhône valley stands out as the area most exposed to A. artemisiifolia pollen (Ardèche, Drôme, Isère and Rhône departments). Significant differences were recorded by age group: for example, under 20 year olds receive more often anti-allergic treatment in injectable form. The total cost of consumption of medical care connected to A. artemisiifolia is estimated at over 40.6 million euros in 2017, 40% of this spending being due to GP and specialists’ consultations. The potential interest of these databases is clearly apparent as they make available to us structured and encoded individual data in a standardized form. However, their use, especially in the context of an epidemiological study, requires a proven methodology with many control and validation processes. By the way, the present study provides an estimate of the direct costs related to consumption care and benefits for work absence as a result of sickness by people who seem allergic to A. artemisiifolia. On the basis of such information one can derive the financial burden of allergies.