School-based Asthma Therapy Improves Outcomes for Pediatric Patients, Saves Millions in Healthcare Costs, Study Finds​​

HealthDay (4/22, Thompson) reports that a “study says that school-based asthma therapy is effective in helping kids breathe easier while away from home.” Researchers say “these school programs keep kids healthier, and can save millions in health care costs.” Medical records “revealed that after a year in the school-based program, children experienced up to 56% increased control over their asthma on average. They also had about a 50% decrease in asthma-related hospitalizations and ER visits; about a 40% decrease in urgent care and acute care visits; and a 71% reduction in pediatric ICU stays, researchers found.” The program had a significant impact on “Black children, who had as much as a 66% improvement in their asthma control, results show.” Researchers point out that “annual savings cropped up to $3.4 million.” The study was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global.​​