Abstract

Background
A National Asthma Programme was undertaken in Finland from 1994 to 2004 to improve asthma care and prevent an increase in costs. The main goal was to lessen the burden of asthma to individuals and society.

Methods
The action programme focused on implementation of new knowledge, especially for primary care. The main premise underpinning the campaign was that asthma is an inflammatory disease and requires anti-inflammatory treatment from the outset. The key for implementation was an effective network of asthma-responsible professionals and development of a post hoc evaluation trategy. In 1997 Finnish pharmacies were included in the Pharmacy Programme and in 2002 a Childhood Asthma mini-Programme was launched.

Results
The incidence of asthma is still increasing, but the burden of asthma has ecreased considerably. The number of hospital days has fallen by 54% from 110 000 in 1993 to 51 000 in 2003, 69% in relation to the number of asthmatics (n = 135 363 and 207 757, respectively), with the trend still ownwards. In 1993, 7212 patients of working age (9% of 80 133 asthmatics) received a disability pension from the Social Insurance Institution compared with 1741 in 2003 (1.5% of 116 067 asthmatics). The absolute decrease was 76%, and 83% in relation to the number of asthmatics. The increase in the cost of asthma (compensation for disability, drugs, hospital care, and outpatient doctor visits) ended: in 1993 the costs were J218 million which had fallen to J213.5 million in 2003. Costs per patient per year have decreased 36% (from J1611 to J1031).

Conclusion
It is possible to reduce the morbidity of asthma and its impact on ndividuals as well as on society. Improvements would have taken place without the programme, but not of this magnitude.

Full Text

Comments

Occupation accounts for 29% (95% CI 25-33) incident adult asthma in men and 17% (95% CI 15-19) in women

4/18/2008