Economic Cost of Air Pollution Effect on Respiratory System Patients: Phimai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

This research aims to study of Assessment of Economic Cost of Air Pollution Effect on Respiratory System Patients: Phimai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand. On average per person per year using Human Capital Approach through the methodology of Prevalence Approach. The economic cost of patient divides into two categories; direct and indirect costs. The Data were collected from three groups of patients, suffering from asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: COPD and Acute bronchitis due to exposure to air pollutants or particulate matter, who received medical treatments from Phimai hospital in 2018, totaling 100 observations. The research instrument covered Questionnaire and information were also complied from the medical record of individual patient of Phimai hospital. The result of this research was the total economic cost of respiratory illness due to air pollution was assessed to be 17,907.45 baht per patient per year on the average which can be distinguished into 14,164.26 baht of direct cost accounted 79.10% for and 3,743.19 baht of indirect cost accounted for 20.90% of the total cost, respectively.