ABSTRACT
In the United States of America (USA) total healthcare costs for asthma were estimated to be $12.7 billion for 2001. Of this, $2.4 billion were attributed to treatment costs (Figure 5.1).1 Despite current national and international guidelines recommending controller therapy with inhaled corticosteroids as first-line therapy, beta-agonists accounted for 53% of the total respiratory market (Figure 5.2)2 with neublizers accounting for 16% (Figure 5.3). Similar figures have been published for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As such, many patients with asthma and COPD are prescribed nebulizers at home as well as during exacerbations in the emergency department in the hospital.
