A RETROSPECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF COST AVOIDANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF NEDOCROMIL SODIUM METERED-DOSE INHALER IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTSWITH ASTHMA

A retrospective analysis of patient charts was performed for a single, multioffice pulmonary practice in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to assess hospital care utilization and associated cost reductions after asthma prophylaxis with nedocromil sodium inhalation aerosol. Data were obta ined from 310 adult patients with mild, moderate, or severe asthma who were treated in the practice between January 1988 and June 1994 and w ho had been placed on nedocromil sodium for at least 1 year. The numbe r of office visits increased with nedocromil sodium therapy due to ini tial surveillance of the new medication, but no other changes were mad e in the usual protocol for each visit After initiation of nedocromil sodium therapy, patients showed better asthma control as measured by i mprovements in pulmonary function scores and by reduced hospital utili zation (both emergency department visits and hospital admissions). It is likely that the improvements in asthma control could result in cost savings, and savings projections for the Canadian health care system were made using the retrospective data collected for asthma-related ho spital services. Prospective data are needed to confirm our findings.