Cost-effectiveness analysis of a state funded programme for control of severe asthma

81 patients with severe asthma (12–75 years) joining a programme in a reference clinic providing free asthma medication were asked retrospectively about costs and events in the previous 12 months. During 12 months after joining the programme, information on direct and indirect costs, asthma control by lung function, symptoms and quality of life were collected. The information obtained was used to estimate cost-effectiveness of the intervention as compared to usual public health asthma management. Sensitivity analysis was conducted.64 patients concluded the study. During the 12-months follow-up within the programme, patients had 5 fewer days of hospitalization and 68 fewer visits to emergency/non scheduled medical visits per year, on average. Asthma control scores improved by 50% and quality of life by 74%. The annual saving in public resources was US$387 per patient. Family annual income increased US$512, and family costs were reduced by US$733.A programme for control of severe asthma in a developing country can reduce morbidity, improve quality of life and save resources from the health system and patients families.The prevalence of asthma is increasing in many countries [1,2]. This trend has been attributed to adoption of western lifestyle, and it is expected that prevalence of asthma will continue to increase in developing countries. The prevalence of uncontrolled severe asthma has also growing with great economic and social impact for families and health systems, major health resource utilization, loss of productivity and deterioration in quality of life.The primary aim of persistent asthma management is to gain symptom control, by monitoring clinical manifestations of airway inflammation and regular use of inhaled corticosteroids [3,4]. But the proportion of individuals with persistent asthma reporting use of inhaled corticosteroids is low: 41% in Europe, 35% in the U.S.A., 14% in Asia and only 5% in Brazil [5,6].Brazil has a high prevalence of asthma, with est