Impact of Asthma, Bronchitis and Rhinitis on Hospitalizations
Asthma, chronic bronchitis and allergic rhinitis are common health problems in industrialized countries and they often coexist. Furthermore, chronic bronchitis is associated with both a more severe form of the disease and poor control of symptoms in subjects with asthma, and it may indicate the presence of the asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome.
Asthma generates a high socio-economic burden among European adults, which significantly increases when chronic bronchitis is also present. Moreover, asthma and allergic rhinitis together account for most of the allergy-related morbidity associated with the respiratory system. Therefore, real-world evaluations of the impact of these diseases in the general population are fundamental to meet the widespread need for updated estimates, which should be used as a valid support to public health decisions.
In recent years, the socio-economic impact of asthma, chronic bronchitis and allergic rhinitis has been largely investigated. However, in many studies, the total burden (i.e. the burden due to any health problems) in patients with these respiratory illnesses has not been estimated because only disease-related costs have been considered. Moreover, the total burden should be compared between patients with a certain disease and unaffected subjects from the general population. Indeed, a better understanding of the burden of these respiratory diseases requires the assessment of their total impact on the health and social systems.
The aim of the present paper is to compare all-cause hospitalizations and limitations in daily activities among adult subjects with asthma, chronic bronchitis or allergic rhinitis, and unaffected individuals from the general population, and to assess the contribution of breathing problems to the total burden. To fulfil these purposes, the data from the screening stage of the Gene Environment Interactions in Respiratory Diseases (GEIRD) study were used.
Background
Asthma, chronic bronchitis and allergic rhinitis are common health problems in industrialized countries and they often coexist. Furthermore, chronic bronchitis is associated with both a more severe form of the disease and poor control of symptoms in subjects with asthma, and it may indicate the presence of the asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome.
Asthma generates a high socio-economic burden among European adults, which significantly increases when chronic bronchitis is also present. Moreover, asthma and allergic rhinitis together account for most of the allergy-related morbidity associated with the respiratory system. Therefore, real-world evaluations of the impact of these diseases in the general population are fundamental to meet the widespread need for updated estimates, which should be used as a valid support to public health decisions.
In recent years, the socio-economic impact of asthma, chronic bronchitis and allergic rhinitis has been largely investigated. However, in many studies, the total burden (i.e. the burden due to any health problems) in patients with these respiratory illnesses has not been estimated because only disease-related costs have been considered. Moreover, the total burden should be compared between patients with a certain disease and unaffected subjects from the general population. Indeed, a better understanding of the burden of these respiratory diseases requires the assessment of their total impact on the health and social systems.
The aim of the present paper is to compare all-cause hospitalizations and limitations in daily activities among adult subjects with asthma, chronic bronchitis or allergic rhinitis, and unaffected individuals from the general population, and to assess the contribution of breathing problems to the total burden. To fulfil these purposes, the data from the screening stage of the Gene Environment Interactions in Respiratory Diseases (GEIRD) study were used.
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