CALCULATION OF THE INDIRECT COSTS OF ASTHMA ACCORDING TO AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD

The indirect costs of asthma can be alternatively assessed on the basis of asthma related disability payments and the lost earnings from asthma related absenteeism, reduced effectiveness at work and work time required to attend medical consultations. (See Figure One). The assessment of the cost of foregone output employs the same volume assumptions as discussed in the 'Indirect Costs' section. The only difference lies in the valuation method of that lost productivity. Here a day's output is valued at the tangible average weekly earnings figure rather than the all-inclusive GDP cost. (See Figure Two for calculations).

The cost of asthma related disability has been assessed on the basis of the Department of Social Security's Sickness Benefit and Invalid Pension payments. These have been calculated according to the following schemata shown in Figures Three and Four, and only involve assumptions on the actual volume of payments attributed to asthma.

Content Updated 1992