哮喘联盟

    背景：研究巴西萨尔瓦多低收入家庭中严重哮喘的直接和间接支出以及控制哮喘对家庭经济的影响。
    方法：入选197名在国家支助的哮喘中心接受免费治疗的严重哮喘患者。登记时，询问患者家庭1年的主要支出，同时评估患者的基线肺功能、哮喘症状和生活质量。随后1年，对其再次进行回顾性评估。
    结果：180名患者完成了为期12个月的随访，其中女性占84％，平均家庭收入为US$ 2955/年。47％的家庭成员因为哮喘而失业，哮喘控制的总支出占家庭收入的29％。正规治疗后，哮喘控制评分改善50％，生活质量改善74％。由于家庭成员返回了工作岗位，家庭收入每年增加US$ 711。哮喘总支出减少中位数为US$ 789/家庭/年。因此，每年每个家庭有US$ 1500的结余。
    结论：下层社会人群中，中等收入群体严重哮喘家庭支出占到家庭总收入的1/4。对哮喘的有效控制能给家庭和个人带来经济上较大的改善。

（刘国梁 审校）
Franco R, et al. Allergy. 2009 Feb 6. [Epub ahead of print]

The economic impact of severe asthma to low-income families.

Background: To estimate the direct and indirect costs of severe asthma and the economic impact of its management to low-income families in Salvador, Brazil.
Methods: One hundred and ninety-seven patients with severe asthma and referred to a state-funded asthma center providing free treatment were evaluated. At registration, they were asked about family cost-events in the previous year and had a baseline assessment of lung function, symptoms and quality of life. During the subsequent year, they were reassessed prospectively.
Results: One hundred-eighty patients concluded a 12-month follow-up. Eighty-four percent were female patients, and the median family income was US$ 2955/year. Forty-seven percent of family members had lost their jobs because of asthma. Total cost of asthma management took 29% of family income. After proper treatment, asthma control scores improved by 50% and quality of life by 74%. The income of the families increased by US$ 711/year, as their members went back to work. The total cost of asthma to the families was reduced by a median US$ 789/family/year. Consequently, an annual surplus of US$ 1500/family became available.
Conclusions: Family costs of severe asthma consumed over one-fourth of the family income of the underprivileged population in a middle-income country. Adequate management brings major economic benefit to individuals and families.