English abstract
This study evaluates the direct costs of treating asthma in Oman. Methods: Asthma
prevalence and unit cost estimates were based on results from a panel using the Delphi technique, and were applied
to the total Omani population aged 5 and older to obtain the number of people diagnosed with asthma. The estimates
from the Delphi exercise were multiplied by the percentage of patients using government facilities to estimate the
number of asthma patients managed in Oman. Treatment costs were also calculated using data from the Delphi
exercise and the Asthma Insights and Reality for the Gulf and Near East study (reported in Omani riyals [OMR] and
US dollars [USD]). Results: The prevalence of asthma was estimated to be 7.3% of adults (n = 96,470) and 12.7% of
children (n = 58,344). Of these, 95% of both adults and children were estimated to be using government healthcare
facilities. Inpatient visits accounted for the largest proportion of total direct costs (55%), followed by emergency
room and outpatient visits (25% and 20%, respectively) and medications (<0.2%). The annual cost of treatment
excluding medications, was OMR 34,273,696 (USD 89,111,609) for adults and OMR 27,014,735 (USD 70,238,311)
for children. Including medications, the total annual direct cost of asthma treatment was estimated to be over OMR
61,500,294 (USD 159,900,761). Conclusion: Given the high medical expenditures associated with facility visits
relative to the lower medication costs, the focus of Oman's asthma cost savings should be on improving asthma
control rather than reducing medication costs.
