Cost-effectiveness of asthma therapy

An important management strategy in asthma is the application of a cost-effectiveness review to the selected management principles. Efficacy, in the clinical trial setting, is the first determinant of effectiveness. However, in comparing the costeffectiveness of two or more therapeutic strategies or drugs the determinants of cost-effectiveness may require more than the simple comparison of Rand value and clinical efficacy end-points. The Rand value of a successful outcome is vital. One of the main goals of long-term asthma management is to avoid asthma-related hospital admissions. An effective asthma education programme can resolve most, if not all of the shortcomings in asthma care. In addition, adherence to guideline recommendations would result in a a decrease in unnecessary and costly (cost-ineffective) therapies. Many asthmatics in South Africa are not being treated according to local or international guideline recommendations and lastly adherence is a serious problem in asthma therapy, significantly increasing asthma management costs.