Medical expenditures attributable to asthma, COPD substantial among US workers

In a CDC study, total annualized medical expenditures in U.S. workers from 2011 to 2015 were $7 billion for asthma-related events and $5 billion for COPD-related events, according to data published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Girija Syamlal, MBBS, with the respiratory health division at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at the CDC, and colleagues analyzed data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey for 2011 to 2015 to determine medical expenditures attributed to treatment of asthma and COPD. The study focused on 166 million U.S. workers aged 18 years and older. The researchers analyzed self-reported medical conditions, associated medical events, payments, sources of payments and employment status.

Among the 166 million U.S. workers, 8 million (5%) had at least one asthma-related medical event and 7 million (4%) had at least one COPD-related medical event. In total, there were 21 million asthma- and 15 million COPD-associated medical events.

The highest annualized expenditures per individual attributed to asthma treatment and COPD treatment were among non-Hispanic white participants ($923 and $742, respectively), those with health insurance ($914 and $705, respectively) and nonsmokers ($936 and $692, respectively). By age, annualized expenditures per individual were highest among those aged 45 to 64 years ($1,081) and at least 65 years ($1,090), respectively, according to the results.

Prescription drugs to treat asthma and inpatient visits for COPD accounted for the highest total annualized expenditures. Annualized expenditures per individual were $8,238 for asthma inpatient visits and $27,597 for COPD inpatient visits.

Private health insurance paid for 61% of expenses related to asthma treatment and 59% of expenses related to COPD treatment.

By industry, annual expenditures per individual for asthma treatment were highest among U.S. workers in public administration ($1,279) and transportation and utilities workers ($1,222), and annual expenditures per individual for COPD were highest among those working in public transportation ($1,819) and construction ($1,198).

“Early identification and reduction of risk factors, including workplace exposures such as vapors, gas, dusts and fumes, and implementation of proven interventions are needed to reduce the adverse health and economic impacts of asthma and COPD among workers," Syamlal told Healio. "Prioritizing intervention efforts aimed at preventing asthma and COPD among workers, especially among those with higher medical costs are needed to reduce the adverse health and economic impacts of asthma and COPS among workers."

For more information:

Girija Syamlal, MBBS, can be reached at uvg2@cdc.org.

Editor’s note: This article was updated on July 8, 2020, with original quotes from Girija Syamlal, MBBS.