Economic costs of asthma in Brazil: a one year real life study in outpatient setting

Methods Persistent asthmatics ≥ 6 years old under GINA outpatient treatment were consecutively included in a real life design and a society perspective/bottom-up approach. They underwent routine clinical visits at 3to 4-month intervals and 2 interviews with 6-month intervals using a structured instrument, made by researchers not involved in their clinical treatment. Data on asthma costs were collected directly from patients or parents, regarding prior 3 to 6 months . Collected data were valued in Brazilian Reais (R$) by using data banks from Brazillian Ministry of Health (for public resources), Brazillian Medical Association (for suplemmentary system resources) and values informed by patients for private resources expenditures. Exchange rate used was US$ 1.00 = R$ 1.89 (purchasing power parity in 2012/World Bank).