Abstract
Appraisal of therapeutic cost-benefit must become an essential part of the national allocation of limited resources. To recognize cost-effectiveness in management of childhood atopic dermatitis (AD), cost of outpatient care were assessed at 3 private offices, 4 general hospitals, and 2 university hospitals. Two-hundred and forty two AD patients aged 0 to 20 years were enrolled. Mean of total cost over one-month was ¥11, 000; ¥3, 000 was on physician's fee, ¥5, 000 on prescribed medications, ¥1, 600 on prescription, and ¥1, 400 on laboratory tests. Anti-allergic agents comprised 56% of the cost of medications, while oral DSCG comprised 21%, ointments 21%, antihistaminics 3%. Categorization of AD into subgroups of different severity showed that the amount of anti-allergic agents and oral DSCG prescribed to moderate and severe patients was higher than that of mild patients, which resulted in higher medication cost of moderate and severe groups.
