This study provides an economic evaluation of asthma in the United States, focusing on the distribution of healthcare resources used and the associated costs. The researchers estimated direct medical expenditures and indirect costs (in 1985 dollars) and projected these costs to 1990 dollars. The total cost of asthma-related illness in 1990 was estimated at $6.2 billion. Inpatient hospital services were the largest direct medical expenditure, totaling $1.6 billion, while the value of reduced productivity due to lost school days was the largest indirect cost, amounting to $1 billion. Despite asthma being often considered a mild chronic illness treatable with outpatient care, 43% of its economic impact was associated with emergency room use, hospitalization, and death. Nearly two-thirds of ambulatory care visits for asthma were to physicians in primary care specialties: pediatrics, family medicine or general practice, and internal medicine. The study suggests that potential reductions in asthma-related costs can be identified by examining the effectiveness of care in each cost category. Future health policy efforts aimed at improving primary care interventions for asthma may reduce the economic burden of this common illness.This study provides an economic evaluation of asthma in the United States, focusing on the distribution of healthcare resources used and the associated costs. The researchers estimated direct medical expenditures and indirect costs (in 1985 dollars) and projected these costs to 1990 dollars. The total cost of asthma-related illness in 1990 was estimated at $6.2 billion. Inpatient hospital services were the largest direct medical expenditure, totaling $1.6 billion, while the value of reduced productivity due to lost school days was the largest indirect cost, amounting to $1 billion. Despite asthma being often considered a mild chronic illness treatable with outpatient care, 43% of its economic impact was associated with emergency room use, hospitalization, and death. Nearly two-thirds of ambulatory care visits for asthma were to physicians in primary care specialties: pediatrics, family medicine or general practice, and internal medicine. The study suggests that potential reductions in asthma-related costs can be identified by examining the effectiveness of care in each cost category. Future health policy efforts aimed at improving primary care interventions for asthma may reduce the economic burden of this common illness.