The economic burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the USA, Europe, and Asia: results from a systematic review of the literature

Background: Lack of information about economic burden of COPD is a major cause of lack of attention to this chronic condition from governments and policymakers. Objective: To find the economic burden of COPD in Asia, USA and Europe, and to identify the key cost driving factors in management of COPD patients. Methodology: Relevant studies assessing the cost of COPD from patient perspective or societal perspective were retrieved by thoroughly searching PUBMED, SCIENCE DIRECT, GOOGLE SCHOLAR, SCOPUS, and SAGE Premier Databases. Results: In the USA annual per patient direct medical cost and hospitalization cost were reported as $10,367 and $6852, respectively. In Asia annual per patient direct medical cost in Iran, Korea and Singapore was reported as $1544, $3077, and $2335, respectively. However, annual per patient hospitalization cost in Iran, Korea, Singapore, India, China, and Turkey was reported as $865, $1371, $1868, $296, $1477 and $1031, respectively. In Europe annual per patient direct medical cost was reported as $11,787, $10,552, $8644, $8203, $7760, $3190, $1889, $2162, and $2254 in Norway, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Spain, Belgium, and Serbia, respectively. Conclusion: Limiting the disease to early stage and preventing exacerbations may reduce the cost of management of COPD.