Healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and direct medical costs (DMC) are found significantly higher in case of treatment of asthma patients with pertussis, especially in older patients, found a retrospective database study based in England which aimed to assess the impact of pertussis in asthmatic individuals. Propensity score-matched patients with a diagnosis of asthma without pertussis and asthma with pertussis was – 6 to +11, mainly attributed to increased healthcare resource utilization and direct medical costs.  The researchers said that out of the 6,85,105 patients they examined, 346 had reported a pertussis event and that this diagnosis among adults aged 50 years or more resulted in a significant increase in medical costs which spanned several months around diagnosis. The study also highlighted the need for prevention strategies considering the disproportionate cost division pertaining to the diagnosis.