Publication: Economic burden of the inadequate management of allergic rhinitis and urticaria in Asian countries based on the GA <sup>2</sup> LEN model
Issued Date
2018-07-01
Resource Type
ISSN
20927363
20927355
20927355
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-85049143020
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Research. Vol.10, No.4 (2018), 370-378
Suggested Citation
Kanokvalai Kulthanan, Supinda Chusakul, Marysia Tiongco Recto, Ma Teresita Gabriel, Derrick Chen Wee Aw, Narayanan Prepageran, Alson Wong, Jern Lin Leong, Henry Foong, Vo Thanh Quang, Torsten Zuberbier Economic burden of the inadequate management of allergic rhinitis and urticaria in Asian countries based on the GA <sup>2</sup> LEN model. Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Research. Vol.10, No.4 (2018), 370-378. doi:10.4168/aair.2018.10.4.370 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/45999
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
Economic burden of the inadequate management of allergic rhinitis and urticaria in Asian countries based on the GA <sup>2</sup> LEN model
Other Contributor(s)
University of the Philippines Manila
Gokila
University of Malaya
Chulalongkorn University
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
ASCENT Ear Nose Throat Specialist Group
National Hospital of Otorhinolaryngology
Foong Skin Specialist Clinic
Private Clinic
Gokila
University of Malaya
Chulalongkorn University
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
ASCENT Ear Nose Throat Specialist Group
National Hospital of Otorhinolaryngology
Foong Skin Specialist Clinic
Private Clinic
Abstract
© The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 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.