Valuing the Economic Costs of Allergic Rhinitis, Acute Bronchitis, and Asthma from Exposure to Indoor Dampness and Mold in the US
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Level 5 by design analogy; economic modeling study based on secondary data, assumptions, and sensitivity analyses without original clinical data.
OpenAlex W2402419257 · doi:10.1155/2016/2386596
What was done
The author estimated the societal economic costs (2014$) of allergic rhinitis, acute bronchitis, and asthma (morbidity and mortality) attributable to indoor dampness and mold exposure in the United States. The analysis combined Cost of Illness (COI) and Willingness to Pay (WTP) methods alongside a limited sensitivity analysis to evaluate alternative assumptions.
What was found
Annual US societal costs attributable to dampness and mold exposure were estimated at: - Allergic rhinitis: $3.7 billion (range: $2.3–$4.7 billion) - Acute bronchitis: $1.9 billion (range: $1.1–$2.3 billion) - Asthma morbidity: $15.1 billion (range: $9.4–$20.6 billion) - Asthma mortality: $1.7 billion (range: $0.4–$4.5 billion) Total all-cause costs calculated with the same framework were $24.8 billion for allergic rhinitis, $13.5 billion for acute bronchitis, $94.5 billion for asthma morbidity, and $10.8 billion for asthma mortality.
Why it matters
It provides national-level estimates of the economic burden associated with dampness and mold-related respiratory illnesses, identifying asthma morbidity as the largest cost component.
Limits
The findings depend heavily on modeling assumptions and secondary data sources rather than direct primary measurements. WTP estimates were noted as difficult to obtain and rarely available, and the sensitivity analysis revealed wide potential ranges around the final cost estimates.
Cited by
- supports Approximately 50% of buildings in the United States have water damage.