Poorly controlled asthma costly Poorly controlled asthma more
than doubles healthcare costs associated with the disease and
threatens educational achievement through a dramatic increase in
school absence, according to researchers at National Jewish
Health. The research team reported in the August 2011 issue of
The Archives of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology that children with
"very poorly controlled" asthma missed an average of 18 days of
school each year, compared to 2 or less for other asthma
patients. "This study looks for the first time at how effective
and ineffective management of severe asthma impacts cost ," said
Stanley Szefler, MD, lead author and Professor of Pediatrics at
National Jewish Health. "It highlights the toll that poorly
controlled asthma takes on children. It also points to an
opportunity with proper attention and education, many, if not
most, of those children could gain control over their asthma,
thus reducing healthcare costs, improving their lives and their
chances for success." The re