Understanding the economic burden of asthma

The economic impact of asthma is large and growing, and the use of economic outcomes is increasing. Such outcomes serve as the basis for studies of th e efficiency of care and are being reported increasingly as outcomes of cli nical trials. This article presents the basic components of a cost-of-illne ss study, the influences that have an impact on these components, the relat ion of economic indicators to clinical outcomes, and the relative importanc e of the economic factors for differing groups in society.