[Willingness to pay and quality of life in patients with Japanese-cedar pollinosis].

ABSTRACT

Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) is one of the world's most common health problems because it's a high-cost, high-prevalence disease. In this study, we investigated patients' willingness to pay (WTP) for prevention and cure from most common SAR, Japanese-cedar pollinosis. Two hundred and forty patients with Japanese-cedar pollinosis, who visited 4 clinics in Osaka and were measured QOL by the SF-36 Questionnaire (Japanese version) during pollen season, were mailed WTP questionnaire in off-season in 1998. Completed questionnaires were sent back by 175 patients. Most patients (83.5%) were willing to pay less than 10,000 yen. Patients with longer duration of disease or severer nasal symptom tended to be more willing to pay. In contrast, no association was found between WTP and sex, age, occupation and comorbid condition. There were significant impairments in five of eight QOL dimensions in patients of Much-WTP in comparison with Less-WTP. Patients with mild symptom had significant higher medication cost than those with less mild symptom. We conclude that effective treatment, even if it costs much, can satisfy patients and may help to reduce indirect costs as well as to lessen the impact of Japanese-cedar pollinosis on QOL for both patient and society.