Economic Burden of Hospitalization with Acute Wheezing in Preschool Children: A Multi-Center Study.

BACKGROUND

Wheezing is an important health problem in Thailand especially among preschool age.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to estimate costs of wheezing for hospitalization in preschool children under patient, provider, and societal perspectives.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Two hundred and thirty-four participants who were admitted with acute wheezing at 4 hospitals including Thammasat University Hospital, Saraburi Hospital, Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital during July 2014 to June 2015 were included in the present study. Data from hospital financial database and caregivers’ expenses were collected. Cost-to-charge ratio method was employed for valuation of direct medical costs. Informal care costs were determined by human capital approach.

RESULTS

The means of patient, provider and societal costs per admission were 3,020 THB (SD = 6,632 THB), 18,126 THB (SD = 16,898 THB), and 20,269 THB (SD = 20,537 THB) respectively. The main cost component in provider and societal perspective were accommodation costs during admission. Informal care cost was a major cost component for direct nonmedical costs. The economic burden of acute wheezing admission of preschool children in Thailand was estimated as 759 million THB per year.

CONCLUSION

These costs of illness analysis provided an evidence of economic burden and costs of preschool wheezing in hospitalization in Thailand.