Acupuncture treatment was associated with significantly higher costs compared to control patients ( overall costs : 860.76 [ 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) 705.04-1016 .47 ] versus 518.80 [ 95 % CI 356.66-680 .93 ] ; p = 0.003 ; asthma-related costs : 517.52 [ 95 % CI 485.63-549 .40 ] versus 144.87 [ 95 % CI 111.70-178 .05 ] ; p < 0.001 ) .