Estimating the financial burden of asthma among young adults in Sweden

Introduction: The financial burden of asthma in young adults remains sparsely investigated. Our study aims to estimate the Swedish national financial burden of asthma in adults aged 18-45 using nationwide databases. Methods: The financial burden of asthma in Sweden was estimated using the Swedish burden of disease, cost of medical care, and sick leave utilization data from 2022, together with healthcare consumption estimates from a nationwide burden of asthma study (data from 2014 to 2018). Costs were calculated as total costs and excess costs compared to matched controls. Results: = 88,898) revealed an excess annual financial burden of €204,375,739, of which 39% (€ 80,150,137) were sick leave transfers. Conclusion: Asthma in Sweden is associated with a substantial financial burden from both direct costs and asthma-related sick leave compared to matched controls, and the pooled excess burden of ICS-treated asthma in young adults exceeded €200,000,000 annually.