AHRQ: Average annual prescription drug expenses for children with asthma have doubled

The percentage of American children treated for asthma increased while their annual drug expenses more than doubled over a 10-year period, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

According to data from the federal agency that compared the 1997-1998 and 2007-2008 time periods:

• Average annual percentage of American children treated for asthma increased from 4.7 percent to 6.1 percent.
• Average annual prescription drug expenses for a child with asthma more than doubled, from $349 to $838.
• Children ages 5 to 11 years were more likely to be treated for asthma than children ages 12 to 17.
• Overall average annual health care expenses per child with asthma increased 37 percent, from $1,827 to $2,503.