The economic burden of allergic comorbidities in pediatric severe asthma.

Severe asthma (SA) affects less than 5% of the pediatric asthma population but is considered to account for approximately half of total pediatric asthma healthcare costs. For children with allergic SA not requiring omalizumab, the economic burden of allergic comorbidities was €174.50 representing 17.8% of direct SA costs and 15.8% of global SA costs (Figure S1). Allergic comorbidities, including food allergies (FA) and allergic rhinitis (AR), are frequent in children with SA.1 The presence of FA and AR increases asthma severity 1-6 and medication use.4-6 Treating AR improves asthma symptoms.3 However, the economic burden of allergic comorbidities in children with SA has been poorly studied. The mean overall cost of SA was €3,982.00 over the six-month study period.7 For children with allergic SA, the mean cost attributed to allergic comorbidities was €2,803.00 representing 48.1% of the direct SA costs and 45.8% of the global SA costs (Figure S1). [Extracted from the article]