Medical Charge of Asthma Care in Admitted Thai Children
Nualanong Visitsunthorn MD*, Worawan Durongpisitkul MD*, Srisakul Uoonpan MD*, Orathai Jirapongsananuruk MD*, Pakit Vichyanond MD*
Affiliation : *Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Background : Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in children. Due to high admission rate for
acute asthmatic attack, children often miss their schools and parents have to stop working to take care of
them. These affect both mental and physical health as well as socioeconomic status of the family and the
country.
Objectives : To evaluate medical charge of asthma care in children admitted to the Department of Pediatrics,
Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University.
Materials and Methods : The study was a retrospective and descriptive study. Data were collected from children
with asthmatic attack admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol
University, Bangkok, Thailand from January 1st, 2000 to June 30th, 2003. Cost of room, food, drugs, devices,
laboratory study and service charge were recorded. Total medical charges per year, per patient per admission
and per patient per day were calculated. Data were analyzed with Chi square test, ANOVA and Post Hoc test.
A p value of < 0.05 was considered statistical significant.
Results : Numbers of children with asthmatic attack admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Siriraj Hospital
increased between 2000-2002 (113,147 and 176 in 2000, 2001, and 2002). Seventy two percent of the
patients were < 5 years of age. Most were mild intermittent asthma. The average duration of hospitalization
was 4 days (95% CI, 3.6-4.3). Average medical charge per patient per admission and per day was 3236.20 and
998.60 Bahts respectively. There was no significant difference in the medical charge per patient among the
admitted years. Medical charge of admission was significantly associated with the asthma severity. (p < 0.05)
Conclusion : The rate of admission from asthmatic attack in children at Siriraj Hospital and the total medical
charge per year increased between 2000-2002. Nevertheless, medical charge of asthma admission per person
was unchanged. Main expense in medical charge of asthma admission was the cost of medication and room.
Severity of asthma was related directly to medical charge.
Keywords : Medical charge of asthma care, Childhood asthma admission
