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Nkoy FL, Stone BL, Zhang Y, Luo G. A Roadmap for Using Causal Inference and Machine Learning to Personalize Asthma Medication Selection. JMIR Med Inform 2024; 12:e56572. [PMID: 38630536 PMCID: PMC11063904 DOI: 10.2196/56572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) is a mainstay treatment for controlling asthma and preventing exacerbations in patients with persistent asthma. Many types of ICS drugs are used, either alone or in combination with other controller medications. Despite the widespread use of ICSs, asthma control remains suboptimal in many people with asthma. Suboptimal control leads to recurrent exacerbations, causes frequent ER visits and inpatient stays, and is due to multiple factors. One such factor is the inappropriate ICS choice for the patient. While many interventions targeting other factors exist, less attention is given to inappropriate ICS choice. Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with variable underlying inflammations and biomarkers. Up to 50% of people with asthma exhibit some degree of resistance or insensitivity to certain ICSs due to genetic variations in ICS metabolizing enzymes, leading to variable responses to ICSs. Yet, ICS choice, especially in the primary care setting, is often not tailored to the patient's characteristics. Instead, ICS choice is largely by trial and error and often dictated by insurance reimbursement, organizational prescribing policies, or cost, leading to a one-size-fits-all approach with many patients not achieving optimal control. There is a pressing need for a decision support tool that can predict an effective ICS at the point of care and guide providers to select the ICS that will most likely and quickly ease patient symptoms and improve asthma control. To date, no such tool exists. Predicting which patient will respond well to which ICS is the first step toward developing such a tool. However, no study has predicted ICS response, forming a gap. While the biologic heterogeneity of asthma is vast, few, if any, biomarkers and genotypes can be used to systematically profile all patients with asthma and predict ICS response. As endotyping or genotyping all patients is infeasible, readily available electronic health record data collected during clinical care offer a low-cost, reliable, and more holistic way to profile all patients. In this paper, we point out the need for developing a decision support tool to guide ICS selection and the gap in fulfilling the need. Then we outline an approach to close this gap via creating a machine learning model and applying causal inference to predict a patient's ICS response in the next year based on the patient's characteristics. The model uses electronic health record data to characterize all patients and extract patterns that could mirror endotype or genotype. This paper supplies a roadmap for future research, with the eventual goal of shifting asthma care from one-size-fits-all to personalized care, improve outcomes, and save health care resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flory L Nkoy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Bryan L Stone
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Yue Zhang
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Gang Luo
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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2
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Guilleminault L, Mounié M, Sommet A, Camus C, Didier A, Reber LL, Conte C, Costa N. The economic burden of asthma prior to death: a nationwide descriptive study. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1191788. [PMID: 38439749 PMCID: PMC10909909 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1191788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background In addition to the clinical burden, asthma is responsible for a high economic burden. However, little is known about the economic burden of asthma prior to death. Objective We performed an economic analysis to describe the costs during 12 and 24 months prior to asthma death between 2013 and 2017 in France. Methods An observational cohort study was established using the French national health insurance database. Direct medical and non-medical costs, as well as costs related to absence from the workplace, were included in the analysis. Results In total, 3,829 patients were included in the final analysis. Over 24 and 12 months prior to death, total medical costs per patient were €27,542 [26,545-28,641] and €16,815 [16,164-17,545], respectively. Total medical costs clearly increased over 24 months prior to death. Over 12 months prior to death, costs increased significantly according to age categories, with mean total costs of €8,592, €15,038, and €17,845, respectively, for the categories <18 years old, 18-75 years old, and 75+ years old (p < 0.0001). Over 12 months prior to death, costs were statistically higher in patients with a dispensation of six or more SABA canisters compared to those with a dispensation of five or less canisters (p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, comorbidities, hospital as location of death, and dispensation of 12 or more canisters of SABA per year are independent factors of the highest costs. Conclusion To conclude, the economic burden of asthma death is high and increases with time, age, and SABA dispensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Guilleminault
- Pôle des voies respiratoires, service de pneumo-allergologie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (Infinity), Inserm U1291, University of Toulouse, CNRS U5282, Toulouse, France
- CRISALIS F-CRIN/INSERM, Toulouse, France
| | - Michael Mounié
- Unité d’Evaluation Médico-Economique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Toulouse, France
- INSERM-UMR 1295 - Center for Epidemiology and Research in POPulation health (CERPOP), Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Agnès Sommet
- Unité “Méthodologie, Data management, Analyses Statistiques”, Centre d’Investigation Clinique 1436, Service de pharmacologie médicale, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Alain Didier
- Pôle des voies respiratoires, service de pneumo-allergologie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (Infinity), Inserm U1291, University of Toulouse, CNRS U5282, Toulouse, France
- CRISALIS F-CRIN/INSERM, Toulouse, France
| | - Laurent Lionel Reber
- Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (Infinity), Inserm U1291, University of Toulouse, CNRS U5282, Toulouse, France
| | - Cécile Conte
- Unité “Méthodologie, Data management, Analyses Statistiques”, Centre d’Investigation Clinique 1436, Service de pharmacologie médicale, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Nadège Costa
- Unité d’Evaluation Médico-Economique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Toulouse, France
- INSERM-UMR 1295 - Center for Epidemiology and Research in POPulation health (CERPOP), Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France
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Plaza Moral V, Alobid I, Álvarez Rodríguez C, Blanco Aparicio M, Ferreira J, García G, Gómez-Outes A, Garín Escrivá N, Gómez Ruiz F, Hidalgo Requena A, Korta Murua J, Molina París J, Pellegrini Belinchón FJ, Plaza Zamora J, Praena Crespo M, Quirce Gancedo S, Sanz Ortega J, Soto Campos JG. GEMA 5.3. Spanish Guideline on the Management of Asthma. OPEN RESPIRATORY ARCHIVES 2023; 5:100277. [PMID: 37886027 PMCID: PMC10598226 DOI: 10.1016/j.opresp.2023.100277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The Spanish Guideline on the Management of Asthma, better known by its acronym in Spanish GEMA, has been available for more than 20 years. Twenty-one scientific societies or related groups both from Spain and internationally have participated in the preparation and development of the updated edition of GEMA, which in fact has been currently positioned as the reference guide on asthma in the Spanish language worldwide. Its objective is to prevent and improve the clinical situation of people with asthma by increasing the knowledge of healthcare professionals involved in their care. Its purpose is to convert scientific evidence into simple and easy-to-follow practical recommendations. Therefore, it is not a monograph that brings together all the scientific knowledge about the disease, but rather a brief document with the essentials, designed to be applied quickly in routine clinical practice. The guidelines are necessarily multidisciplinary, developed to be useful and an indispensable tool for physicians of different specialties, as well as nurses and pharmacists. Probably the most outstanding aspects of the guide are the recommendations to: establish the diagnosis of asthma using a sequential algorithm based on objective diagnostic tests; the follow-up of patients, preferably based on the strategy of achieving and maintaining control of the disease; treatment according to the level of severity of asthma, using six steps from least to greatest need of pharmaceutical drugs, and the treatment algorithm for the indication of biologics in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma based on phenotypes. And now, in addition to that, there is a novelty for easy use and follow-up through a computer application based on the chatbot-type conversational artificial intelligence (ia-GEMA).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isam Alobid
- Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, España
| | | | | | - Jorge Ferreira
- Hospital de São Sebastião – CHEDV, Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal
| | | | - Antonio Gómez-Outes
- Farmacología clínica, Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (AEMPS), Madrid, España
| | - Noé Garín Escrivá
- Farmacia Hospitalaria, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, España
| | | | | | - Javier Korta Murua
- Neumología Pediátrica, Hospital Universitario Donostia, Donostia-San, Sebastián, España
| | - Jesús Molina París
- Medicina de familia, semFYC, Centro de Salud Francia, Fuenlabrada, Dirección Asistencial Oeste, Madrid, España
| | | | - Javier Plaza Zamora
- Farmacia comunitaria, Farmacia Dr, Javier Plaza Zamora, Mazarrón, Murcia, España
| | | | | | - José Sanz Ortega
- Alergología Pediátrica, Hospital Católico Universitario Casa de Salud, Valencia, España
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Genberg EM, Viitanen HT, Mäkelä MJ, Kautiainen HJ, Kauppi PM. Impact of a digital web-based asthma platform, a real-life study. BMC Pulm Med 2023; 23:165. [PMID: 37173716 PMCID: PMC10177708 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-023-02467-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digital health technology (DHT) is a growing area in the treatment of chronic diseases. Study results on DHT's effect on asthma control have been mixed, but benefits have been seen for adherence, self-management, symptoms, and quality of life. The aim was to evaluate the impact of an interactive web-based asthma treatment platform on asthma exacerbations and health care visits. METHODS In this real-life study, we retrospectively collected data on adult patients registered on a web-based interactive asthma treatment platform between December 2018 and May 2021. Patients who activated their accounts were active users, and patients who did not were inactive users and considered as controls. We compared the number of exacerbations, total number of exacerbation events defined as the sum of oral corticosteroid (OCS) and antimicrobial courses, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and asthma-related health care visits before and one year after the registration on the platform. Statistical tests used included the t-test, Pearson's chi-square test and Poisson regression models. RESULTS Of 147 patients registered on the platform, 106 activated their accounts and 41 did not. The active users had significantly fewer total number of exacerbation events (2.56 per person years, relative decline 0.78, 95% CI 0.6 to 1.0) and asthma-related health care visits (2.38 per person years, relative decline 0.84, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.96) than before registration to the platform, whereas the reductions in health care visits and the total number of exacerbation events were not significant in the inactive users. CONCLUSIONS An interactive web-based asthma platform can reduce asthma-related health care visits and exacerbations when used actively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma M Genberg
- Allergic Diseases, Skin and Allergy Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
- Pulmonary Department, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Hilkka T Viitanen
- Allergic Diseases, Skin and Allergy Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mika J Mäkelä
- Allergic Diseases, Skin and Allergy Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannu J Kautiainen
- Primary Health Care Unit, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Paula M Kauppi
- Allergic Diseases, Skin and Allergy Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Pulmonary Department, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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5
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Rosman Y, Hornik-Lurie T, Meir-Shafrir K, Lachover-Roth I, Cohen-Engler A, Confino-Cohen R. The effect of asthma specialist intervention on asthma control among adults. World Allergy Organ J 2022; 15:100712. [DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2022.100712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Håkansson KEJ, Backer V, Ulrik CS. Disease Control, Not Severity, Drives Job Absenteeism in Young Adults with Asthma - A Nationwide Cohort Study. J Asthma Allergy 2022; 15:827-837. [PMID: 35755419 PMCID: PMC9231418 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s360776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The impact of asthma and disease control on job absenteeism in young adults is sparsely investigated and conflicting evidence exist. Based on a nationwide cohort, the present study aims to describe the overall job absenteeism across asthma severities and describe the possible influence of asthma control. Methods REASSESS is a nationwide cohort of Danish asthma patients aged 18–45 using controller medication between 2014 and 2018, followed retrospectively for up to 15 years using national databases. Impact of asthma was investigated using negative binomial regression adjusted for age, sex, Charlson score and level of education and presented as adjusted incidence rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results A total of 60,534 patients with asthma (median age 33 (25, 39), 55% female, 19% uncontrolled disease and 5.7% possible severe asthma) were followed for 12.7 (6.5–14.8) years. The prevalence of any absenteeism was more common in both mild-to-moderate and possible severe asthma compared to the background population (67%, 80% and 62%, respectively; p < 0.0001). Compared to the background population, mild-to-moderate and possible severe asthma were more likely to have temporary sick leave (1.37 (1.33–1.42); 1.78 (1.62–1.96)), unemployment (1.11 (1.07–1.14); 1.26 (1.15–1.38)) and obtain disability benefits (1.67 (1.66–1.67); 2.64 (2.63–2.65)). Uncontrolled asthma had increased temporary sick leave (1.42 (1.34–1.50)), unemployment (1.40 (1.32–1.48)) and disability (1.26 (1.26–1.27)) when compared to controlled disease. Significant increases in absenteeism could be measured already at ≥100 annual doses of rescue medication (1.09 (1.04–0.1.14)), patients’ first moderate or severe exacerbation (1.31 (1.15–1.49) and 1.31 (1.24–1.39), respectively). Further increases in absenteeism were observed with increasing rescue medication use and severe exacerbations. Conclusion Across severities, job absenteeism is increased among patients with asthma compared to the background population. Increases in absenteeism was seen already at ≥100 annual doses of rescue medication, representing a substantial, and probably preventable, reduction in productivity among young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vibeke Backer
- Center for Physical Activity Research (CFAS), Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of ENT, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Suppli Ulrik
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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7
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Mathioudakis AG, Tsilochristou O, Adcock IM, Bikov A, Bjermer L, Clini E, Flood B, Herth F, Horvath I, Kalayci O, Papadopoulos NG, Ryan D, Sanchez Garcia S, Correia-de-Sousa J, Tonia T, Pinnock H, Agache I, Janson C. ERS/EAACI statement on adherence to international adult asthma guidelines. Eur Respir Rev 2021; 30:210132. [PMID: 34526316 PMCID: PMC9488124 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0132-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Guidelines aim to standardise and optimise asthma diagnosis and management. Nevertheless, adherence to guidelines is suboptimal and may vary across different healthcare professional (HCP) groups.Further to these concerns, this European Respiratory Society (ERS)/European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) statement aims to: 1) evaluate the understanding of and adherence to international asthma guidelines by HCPs of different specialties via an international online survey; and 2) assess strategies focused at improving implementation of guideline-recommended interventions, and compare process and clinical outcomes in patients managed by HCPs of different specialties via systematic reviews.The online survey identified discrepancies between HCPs of different specialties which may be due to poor dissemination or lack of knowledge of the guidelines but also a reflection of the adaptations made in different clinical settings, based on available resources. The systematic reviews demonstrated that multifaceted quality improvement initiatives addressing multiple challenges to guidelines adherence are most effective in improving guidelines adherence. Differences in outcomes between patients managed by generalists or specialists should be further evaluated.Guidelines need to consider the heterogeneity of real-life settings for asthma management and tailor their recommendations accordingly. Continuous, multifaceted quality improvement processes are required to optimise and maintain guidelines adherence. Validated referral pathways for uncontrolled asthma or uncertain diagnosis are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander G Mathioudakis
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- North West Lung Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
- These authors were Task Force Co-chairs and are equal authors
| | - Olympia Tsilochristou
- Dept of Allergy, Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Peter Gorer Dept of Immunobiology, King's College London, London, UK
- These authors were Task Force Co-chairs and are equal authors
| | - Ian M Adcock
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London and the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Andras Bikov
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- North West Lung Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Leif Bjermer
- Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Dept of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Enrico Clini
- Dept of Medical Specialities, University Hospital of Modena, University of Modena-Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Breda Flood
- European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients Association (EFA), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Felix Herth
- Dept of Pneumology and Critical Care Medicine, Thoraxklinik and Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ildiko Horvath
- National Koranyi Institute for Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Omer Kalayci
- Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Nikolaos G Papadopoulos
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Allergy Dept, Paediatric Clinic, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dermot Ryan
- Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Jaime Correia-de-Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Thomy Tonia
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hillary Pinnock
- Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ioana Agache
- Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Transylvania University, Brasov, Romania
- These authors were Task Force Co-chairs and are equal authors
| | - Christer Janson
- Dept of Medical Science, Respiratory, Allergy and Sleep Research, Uppsala University and University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
- These authors were Task Force Co-chairs and are equal authors
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8
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Håkansson KEJ, Backer V, Suppli Ulrik C. Socioeconomic biases in asthma control and specialist referral of possible severe asthma. Eur Respir J 2021; 58:13993003.00741-2021. [PMID: 33986027 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00741-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although socioeconomic impact on asthma control has been investigated, little is known about its relation to specialist referral of patients with possible severe asthma, especially in a public healthcare setting. The present study aims to identify socioeconomic patterns in disease control and referral of patients with asthma in a nationwide cohort of adult patients treated with inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). METHODS Asthma patients fulfilling the following: aged 18-45 and redeeming ≥2 prescriptions of ICS during 2014-18 based on data from Danish national registers were included. Possible severe asthma was defined as GINA 2020 Step 4 (with either ≥2 courses of systemic steroids or ≥1 hospitalisation) or Step 5 treatment. Findings presented as odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence intervals). RESULTS Of 60 534 patients (median age 34, 55% female), 3275 (5.7%) were deemed as having possible severe asthma, of whom 61% were managed in primary care alone.Odds of specialist management for possible severe asthma decreased with age (OR 0.66 (0.51-0.85)), 36-45 versus 18-25 years), male sex (OR 0.75 (0.64-0.87)), residence outside the Capital Region (OR 0.70 (0.59-0.82)) and with receiving unemployment or disability benefits OR 0.75 (0.59-0.95)).Having completed higher education increased odds of specialist referral (OR 1.28 (1.03-1.59)), when compared to patients with basic education. CONCLUSION Even in settings with nationally available free access to specialist care, the majority of patients with possible severe asthma are managed in primary care. Referral of at-risk asthma patients differs across socioeconomic parameters, calling for initiatives to identify and actively refer these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vibeke Backer
- Centre for Physical Activity Research (CFAS), Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of ENT, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Suppli Ulrik
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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9
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Ryan D, Heatley H, Heaney LG, Jackson DJ, Pfeffer PE, Busby J, Menzies-Gow AN, Jones R, Tran TN, Al-Ahmad M, Backer V, Belhassen M, Bosnic-Anticevich S, Bourdin A, Bulathsinhala L, Carter V, Chaudhry I, Eleangovan N, FitzGerald JM, Gibson PG, Hosseini N, Kaplan A, Murray RB, Rhee CK, Van Ganse E, Price DB. Potential Severe Asthma Hidden in UK Primary Care. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE 2020; 9:1612-1623.e9. [PMID: 33309935 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.11.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe asthma may be underrecognized in primary care. OBJECTIVE Identify and quantify patients with potential severe asthma (PSA) in UK primary care, the proportion not referred, and compare primary care patients with PSA with patients with confirmed severe asthma from UK tertiary care. METHODS This was a historical cohort study including patients from the Optimum Patient Care Research Database (aged ≥16 years, active asthma diagnosis pre-2014) and UK patients in the International Severe Asthma Registry (UK-ISAR aged ≥18 years, confirmed severe asthma in tertiary care). In the OPCRD, PSA was defined as Global INitiative for Asthma 2018 step 4 treatment and 2 or more exacerbations/y or at Global INitiative for Asthma step 5. The proportion of these patients and their referral status in the last year were quantified. Demographic and clinical characteristics of groups were compared. RESULTS Of 207,557 Optimum Patient Care Research Database patients with asthma, 16,409 (8%) had PSA. Of these, 72% had no referral/specialist review in the past year. Referred patients with PSA tended to have greater prevalence of inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β2-agonist add-ons (54.1 vs 39.8%), and experienced significantly (P < .001) more exacerbations per year (median, 3 vs 2/y), worse asthma control, and worse lung function (% predicted postbronchodilator FEV1/forced vital capacity, 0.69 vs 0.72) versus nonreferred patients. Confirmed patients with severe asthma (ie, UK patients in the International Severe Asthma Registry) were younger (51 vs 65 years; P < .001), and significantly (P < .001) more likely to have uncontrolled asthma (91.4% vs 62.5%), a higher exacerbation rate (4/y [initial assessment] vs 3/y), use inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β2-agonist add-ons (67.7% vs 54.1%), and have nasal polyposis (24.2% vs 6.8) than referred patients with PSA. CONCLUSIONS Large numbers of patients with PSA in the United Kingdom are underrecognized in primary care. These patients would benefit from a more systematic assessment in primary care and possible specialist referral.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dermot Ryan
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Heath Heatley
- Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Liam G Heaney
- UK Severe Asthma Network and National Registry, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - David J Jackson
- UK Severe Asthma Network and National Registry, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust and Division of Asthma, Allergy & Lung Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul E Pfeffer
- UK Severe Asthma Network, Barts Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Busby
- UK Severe Asthma Network and National Registry, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Andrew N Menzies-Gow
- UK Severe Asthma Network and National Registry, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rupert Jones
- Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | | | - Mona Al-Ahmad
- Al-Rashed Allergy Center, Ministry of Health, Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait
| | - Vibeke Backer
- Department of ENT & Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet and Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Manon Belhassen
- PELyon, HESPER 7425, Claude Bernard University, Lyon, France
| | - Sinthia Bosnic-Anticevich
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District, Glebe, NSW, Australia
| | - Arnaud Bourdin
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, Montpellier University Hospitals, Arnaud de Villeneuve Hospital, Montpellier, France
| | - Lakmini Bulathsinhala
- Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore; Optimum Patient Care, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Carter
- Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore; Optimum Patient Care, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Isha Chaudhry
- Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Neva Eleangovan
- Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore; Optimum Patient Care, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Peter G Gibson
- Australian Severe Asthma Network, Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Alan Kaplan
- Family Physician Airways Group of Canada, Stouffville, ON, Canada; University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Chin Kook Rhee
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eric Van Ganse
- PELyon, HESPER 7425, Claude Bernard University, Lyon, France
| | - David B Price
- Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore; Optimum Patient Care, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Centre of Academic Primary Care, Division of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
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10
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Blakey JD, Gayle A, Slater MG, Jones GH, Baldwin M. Observational cohort study to investigate the unmet need and time waiting for referral for specialist opinion in adult asthma in England (UNTWIST asthma). BMJ Open 2019; 9:e031740. [PMID: 31753883 PMCID: PMC6887034 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to estimate how many patients with asthma in England met the referral eligibility criteria using national asthma guidelines, identify what proportion were referred and determine the average waiting time to referral. DESIGN This is an observational cohort study. SETTING/DATA SOURCES Routinely collected healthcare data were provided by Clinical Practice Research Datalink records and Hospital Episode Statistics records from January 2007 to December 2015. PARTICIPANTS Patients with asthma aged 18-80 years participated in this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Eligibility for referral by the British Thoracic Society/Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (BTS/SIGN) 2016 guidelines, determined after a 3-month pharmacological therapy exposure assessment, was classed by either 'high-dose therapies', 'continuous or frequent use of oral steroids' or 'incident eligibility' during follow-up (continuous oral corticosteroids for more than 3 months, or ≥800 µg/day inhaled corticosteroids/long-acting β2-agonist (or three controllers) and ≥2 asthma attacks/year). RESULTS From the final cohort (n=23293), 19837 patients were eligible for specialist referral during follow-up based on the BTS/SIGN guideline recommendations. Among eligible patients without any previously recorded referral, 4% were referred during follow-up, with a median waiting time of 880 days (IQR=1428 days) between eligibility and referral. CONCLUSIONS A large number of patients with asthma were eligible for specialist referral, of which a small proportion were referred, and many experienced a long waiting time before referral. The results indicate a major unmet need in asthma referral, which is a potential source of preventable harm and are likely to have implications regarding how services are organised to address this unmet need.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Blakey
- Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- University of Liverpool Department of Health Services Research, Liverpool, UK
| | - Alicia Gayle
- Market Access, Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd, Bracknell, UK
| | | | - Gareth H Jones
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Michael Baldwin
- TA Respiratory/Biosimilars, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
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11
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Bloom CI, Walker S, Quint JK. Inadequate specialist care referrals for high-risk asthma patients in the UK: an adult population-based cohort 2006-2017. J Asthma 2019; 58:19-25. [PMID: 31550948 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2019.1672723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To improve asthma morbidity and mortality in the UK, national asthma guidelines recommend referral to \ specialist care for the following high-risk groups, after a hospital admission for asthma, ≥3 courses of oral corticosteroids (OCS) in 12 months, an incident high-dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) prescription or addition of a fourth asthma drug to a patient's maintenance regimen. We sought to assess the prevalence and temporal change of referrals to identify unmet needs. METHODS We used UK electronic healthcare records, 2006-2017, to identify high-risk asthma patients managed within primary care. Referrals to respiratory clinics in secondary care were measured, within 3 months before or 6 months after, an incident ICS, third OCS in a year, or fourth asthma drug; or 12 months after a hospital admission for asthma. A nested case-control and conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with receiving a referral. RESULTS A total of 246,116 asthma patients were eligible. There was a slight increase in secondary care referrals from 2014 onwards but the percentage remained low with <20% in each high-risk group referred for specialist care. The factors in the past year that were most strongly associated with receiving a referral were a hospital admission or A&E visit for asthma, ≥3 OCS courses, ≥2 add-on drugs, or high-dose ICS prescription. CONCLUSIONS The majority of high-risk asthma patients were not referred for specialist care, as recommended by national guidelines. Compared to other risk factors, those admitted to hospital were most likely to receive a referral.
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Affiliation(s)
- C I Bloom
- National Heart and Lung Institute, NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - J K Quint
- National Heart and Lung Institute, NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK
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12
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Butz AM, Bollinger ME, Ogborn J, Morphew T, Mudd SS, Kub JE, Bellin MH, Lewis-Land C, DePriest K, Tsoukleris M. Children with poorly controlled asthma: Randomized controlled trial of a home-based environmental control intervention. Pediatr Pulmonol 2019; 54:245-256. [PMID: 30614222 PMCID: PMC6408727 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.24239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few trials have tested targeted environmental control (EC) interventions based on biomarkers of second hand smoke (SHS) exposure and allergen sensitization in reducing asthma emergency department (ED) visits in children with poorly controlled asthma. METHODS Overall, 222 children with poorly controlled asthma were randomized into a home-based EC intervention (INT) or control (CON) group and followed for ED visits over 12 months. All children received allergen-specific IgE serologic testing and SHS exposure biomarker testing to inform the EC intervention. Pharmacy data was examined for asthma medication fills. Cox proportional hazards and multivariate regression models were performed to examine factors associated with repeat ED visits. RESULTS There was no difference in increased risk of >1 ED visit at 12 months between INT and CON groups. Most children (75%) had moderate/severe persistent asthma. Over half (56%) had SHS exposure and 83% tested positive for >1 allergen sensitization. Among children without SHS exposure, the median time to first recurrent ED visit differed by group (CON: 195; INT: >365 days) after adjusting for child age, allergic sensitization, medication fills prior to baseline, controller medication use, and the interaction between group status and SHS exposure. Children who had positive allergic sensitizations, younger, had increased controller medication use and randomized to the CON group and had no SHS exposure had increased risk for a repeat ED visit over 12 months. CONCLUSIONS In this study, a home-based EC intervention was not successful in reducing asthma ED revisits in children with poorly controlled asthma with SHS exposure. Allergic sensitization, young age, and increased controller medication use were important predictors of asthma ED visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlene Manns Butz
- Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mary E Bollinger
- School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jean Ogborn
- Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Shawna S Mudd
- The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Joan E Kub
- Department of Nursing, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Los Angeles, California.,University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Melissa H Bellin
- School of Social Work, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Cassia Lewis-Land
- Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kelli DePriest
- The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mona Tsoukleris
- The School of Pharmacy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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13
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Agnihotri NT, Pade KH, Vangala S, Thompson LR, Wang VJ, Okelo SO. Predictors of prior asthma specialist care among pediatric patients seen in the emergency department for asthma. J Asthma 2018; 56:816-822. [PMID: 29972331 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2018.1493600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Background: Asthma guidelines recommend specialist care for patients experiencing poor asthma outcomes during emergency department (ED) visits. The prevalence and predictors of asthma specialist care among an ED population seeking pediatric asthma care are unknown. Objective: To examine, in an ED population, factors associated with prior asthma specialist use based on parental reports of prior asthma morbidity and asthma care. Methods: Parents of children ages 0 to 17 years seeking ED asthma care were surveyed regarding socio-demographics, asthma morbidity, asthma management and current asthma specialist care status. We compared prior asthma care and morbidity between those currently cared for by an asthma specialist versus not. Multivariable logistic regression models to predict factors associated with asthma specialist use were adjusted for parent education and insurance type. Results: Of 150 children (62% boys, mean age 4.7 years, 69% Hispanic), 22% reported asthma specialist care, 75% did not see a specialist and for 3% specialist status was unknown. Care was worse for those not seeing a specialist, including under-use of controller medications (24% vs. 64%, p < 0.001) and asthma action plans (20% vs. 62%, p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression revealed that lack of recommendation by the primary care physician reduced the odds of specialist care (OR 0.01, 95% CI <0.01, 0.05, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Asthma specialist care was infrequent among this pediatric ED population, consistent with the sub-optimal chronic asthma care we observed. Prospective trials should further investigate if systematic referral to asthma specialists during/after an ED encounter would improve asthma outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha T Agnihotri
- a Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Kathryn H Pade
- b Division of Emergency & Transport Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Sitaram Vangala
- c Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Lindsey R Thompson
- d Department of Pediatrics, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Vincent J Wang
- b Division of Emergency & Transport Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Sande O Okelo
- d Department of Pediatrics, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , Los Angeles , CA , USA
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14
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Price D, Bjermer L, Bergin DA, Martinez R. Asthma referrals: a key component of asthma management that needs to be addressed. J Asthma Allergy 2017; 10:209-223. [PMID: 28794645 PMCID: PMC5536139 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s134300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneity of asthma and difficulty in achieving optimal control are the major challenges in the management of asthma. To help attain the best possible clinical outcomes in patients with asthma, several guidelines provide recommendations for patients who will require a referral to a specialist. Such referrals can help in clearing the uncertainty from the initial diagnosis, provide tailored treatment options to patients with persistent symptoms and offer the patients access to health care providers with expertise in the management of the asthma; thus, specialist referrals have a substantial impact on disease prognosis and the patient's health status. Hurdles in implementing these recommendations include lack of their dissemination among health care providers and nonadherence to these guidelines; these hurdles considerably limit the implementation of specialist referrals, eventually affecting the rate of referrals. In this review, recommendations for specialist referrals from several key international and national asthma guidelines and other relevant published literature are evaluated. Furthermore, we highlight why referrals are not happening, how this can be improved, and ultimately, what should be done in the specialist setting, based on existing evidence in published literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Price
- Centre of Academic Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore
| | - Leif Bjermer
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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15
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Butz A, Morphew T, Lewis-Land C, Kub J, Bellin M, Ogborn J, Mudd SS, Bollinger ME, Tsoukleris M. Factors associated with poor controller medication use in children with high asthma emergency department use. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2017; 118:419-426. [PMID: 28254203 PMCID: PMC5385291 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2017.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding health and social factors associated with controller medication use in children with high-risk asthma may inform disease management in the home and community. OBJECTIVE To examine health and social factors associated with the Asthma Medication Ratio (AMR), a measure of guideline-based care and controller medication use, in children with persistent asthma and frequent emergency department (ED) use. METHODS Study questionnaires, serum allergen sensitization, salivary cotinine, and pharmacy record data were collected for 222 children enrolled from August 2013 to February 2016 in a randomized clinical trial that tested the efficacy of an ED- and home-based intervention. Logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with an AMR greater than 0.50, reflecting appropriate controller medication use. RESULTS Most children were male (64%), African American (93%), Medicaid insured (93%), and classified as having uncontrolled asthma (44%). Almost half (48%) received non-guideline-based care or low controller medication use based on an AMR less than 0.50. The final regression model predicting an AMR greater than 0.50 indicated that children receiving specialty care (odds ratio [OR], 4.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.06-11.50), caregivers reporting minimal worry about medication adverse effects (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.25-1.00), positive sensitization to ragweed allergen (OR, 3.82; 95% CI, 1.63-8.96), and negative specific IgE for dust mite (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.15-0.76) were significantly associated with achieving an AMR greater than 0.50. CONCLUSION Clinical decision making for high-risk children with asthma may be enhanced by identification of sensitization to environmental allergens, ascertaining caregiver's concerns about controller medication adverse effects and increased referral to specialty care. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01981564.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlene Butz
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
| | | | - Cassia Lewis-Land
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Joan Kub
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Melissa Bellin
- School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jean Ogborn
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Shawna S Mudd
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mary Elizabeth Bollinger
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonary and Allergy, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mona Tsoukleris
- School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
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16
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Kim M, Asche CV, Tillis W, Ren J. Association between availability of care providers and healthcare utilizations among adults with asthma. Curr Med Res Opin 2017; 33:479-487. [PMID: 27882775 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2016.1264930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limited accessibility to providers may delay appropriate control of asthma exacerbations. The objective of our study is to estimate the contributors to the hospital/emergency department (ED) visits among adults with asthma focusing on the availability of healthcare providers. METHODS We conducted a pooled cross-sectional analysis using the 2011-2013 Asthma Call-Back Survey linked with 2012-2016 Area Health Resource Files. We employed multivariable logistic regression with dichotomous outcomes of hospitalization and ED visits. Key covariates were the availability of county-level healthcare provider variables per 100,000 persons such as the number of lung disease specialists (including pulmonary care specialists, and allergy and immunology specialists), the number of hospitals, the number of safety-net facilities including rural health centers (RHCs) and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), and the number of primary care physicians (PCPs). RESULTS Among 25,621 adults, proportions of hospital visits and ED visits were 3.3% and 13.2%, respectively. An additional RHC reduced by 3% the odds of having an ED visit (odds ratio [OR] = 0.97, p = .004). Patients with cost barriers to seeing a PCP were 60% (OR = 1.60, p = .028) more likely to have a hospital visit than those without. In addition, patients with cost barriers to seeing a specialist were 90% (OR = 1.90, p = .007) and 111% (OR = 2.11, p = .001) more likely to have a hospital visit and ED visit, respectively, than those without. CONCLUSIONS Hospital and ED visits among adults with asthma are partially related to the availability of providers, and more related to financial barriers. Therefore, financial support for the vulnerable asthma population might be a target for policy makers interested in reducing hospitalizations and ED visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minchul Kim
- a Center for Outcomes Research/Department of Internal Medicine , University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria , Peoria , IL , USA
| | - Carl V Asche
- a Center for Outcomes Research/Department of Internal Medicine , University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria , Peoria , IL , USA
- b Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy , University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - William Tillis
- c OSF St. Francis Medical Center , Peoria , IL , USA
- d Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria , Peoria , IL , USA
| | - Jinma Ren
- a Center for Outcomes Research/Department of Internal Medicine , University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria , Peoria , IL , USA
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17
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González-Freire B, Vázquez I. Quality of life in adults with asthma treated in allergy and pneumology subspecialties: relationship with sociodemographic, clinical and psychological variables. Qual Life Res 2016; 26:635-645. [PMID: 28028697 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-016-1486-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Prior studies suggest that specialist care associates with improved health-related quality of life (HRQL) in asthmatic patients. However, there are limited studies focused on differences in HRQL among subspecialties. The aim of this study was to assess the differences in HRQL between adult asthmatic patients treated in pneumology or allergy practices, and to estimate to what extent the differences in HRQL can be explained by sociodemographic, clinical or psychological characteristics of patients from each specialty. METHODS We recruited adult asthmatic outpatients from allergy and pneumology practices. Information on sociodemographic, clinical and psychological characteristics was collected, and HRQL was assessed with generic and disease-specific questionnaires. HRQL was compared between groups adjusting for sociodemographic, clinical and psychological characteristics. RESULTS A total of 287 asthmatic patients participated in the study (105 from pneumology and 182 from allergy). Patients treated by pneumologists reported significantly poorer HRQL in physical dimensions of generic questionnaire and all dimensions of disease-specific questionnaire. Pneumology patients were older (p < .001) and had a lower education level (p < .001); a higher number of patients were in a non-active employment situation (p = .003) and had worse pulmonary function (p < .001), longer duration of disease (p = .020), higher prevalence of obesity (p < .001) and uncontrolled asthma (p < .001), and a higher rate of previous absenteeism (p = .001). Depression and the use of cognitive avoidance coping were also higher among pneumology patients (p = .050 and p = .022, respectively). There were not significant differences in HRQL between pneumology and allergy patients after adjustment for these sociodemographic, clinical and psychological characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Asthmatic patients treated by pneumologists reported poorer HRQL than patients treated by allergists, but this outcome is attributed to differences in several sociodemographic, clinical and psychological characteristics between the two groups of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz González-Freire
- Private Psychological Practice Beatriz González Freire. Psicóloga, Ourense, Spain.,Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Isabel Vázquez
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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18
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Lewis A, Torvinen S, Dekhuijzen PNR, Chrystyn H, Watson AT, Blackney M, Plich A. The economic burden of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the impact of poor inhalation technique with commonly prescribed dry powder inhalers in three European countries. BMC Health Serv Res 2016; 16:251. [PMID: 27406133 PMCID: PMC4942909 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-016-1482-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common chronic inflammatory respiratory diseases, which impose a substantial burden on healthcare systems and society. Fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting β2 agonists (LABA), often administered using dry powder inhalers (DPIs), are frequently prescribed to control persistent asthma and COPD. Use of DPIs has been associated with poor inhalation technique, which can lead to increased healthcare resource use and costs. METHODS A model was developed to estimate the healthcare resource use and costs associated with asthma and COPD management in people using commonly prescribed DPIs (budesonide + formoterol Turbuhaler(®) or fluticasone + salmeterol Accuhaler(®)) over 1 year in Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom (UK). The model considered direct costs (inhaler acquisition costs and scheduled and unscheduled healthcare costs), indirect costs (productive days lost), and estimated the contribution of poor inhalation technique to the burden of illness. RESULTS The direct cost burden of managing asthma and COPD for people using budesonide + formoterol Turbuhaler(®) or fluticasone + salmeterol Accuhaler(®) in 2015 was estimated at €813 million, €560 million, and €774 million for Spain, Sweden and the UK, respectively. Poor inhalation technique comprised 2.2-7.7 % of direct costs, totalling €105 million across the three countries. When lost productivity costs were included, total expenditure increased to €1.4 billion, €1.7 billion and €3.3 billion in Spain, Sweden and the UK, respectively, with €782 million attributable to poor inhalation technique across the three countries. Sensitivity analyses showed that the model results were most sensitive to changes in the proportion of patients prescribed ICS and LABA FDCs, and least sensitive to differences in the number of antimicrobials and oral corticosteroids prescribed. CONCLUSIONS The cost of managing asthma and COPD using commonly prescribed DPIs is considerable. A substantial, and avoidable, contributor to this burden is poor inhalation technique. Measures that can improve inhalation technique with current DPIs, such as easier-to-use inhalers or better patient training, could offer benefits to patients and healthcare providers through improving disease outcomes and lowering costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lewis
- Covance Market Access, London, UK
| | - S Torvinen
- Teva Pharmaceuticals Europe B.V, Haarlem, Netherlands
| | - P N R Dekhuijzen
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - H Chrystyn
- Talmedica Ltd., Rossendale, and Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - A Plich
- Teva Pharmaceuticals Europe B.V, Haarlem, Netherlands
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19
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Behr JG, Diaz R, Akpinar-Elci M. Health Service Utilization and Poor Health Reporting in Asthma Patients. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:E645. [PMID: 27376308 PMCID: PMC4962186 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13070645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Revised: 06/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The management and treatment of adult asthma has been associated with utilization of health services. OBJECTIVES First, to investigate the likelihood of health service utilization, including primary care, emergency department, and hospital stays, among persons diagnosed with an asthma condition relative to those that do not have an asthma condition. Second, to examine the likelihood of poor physical health among asthma respondents relative to those that do not have an asthma condition. Third, to demonstrate that these relationships vary with frequency of utilization. Fourth, to discuss the magnitude of differences in frequent utilization between asthma and non-asthma respondents. DATA SOURCE Data is derived from a random, stratified sampling of Hampton Roads adults, 18 years and older (n = 1678). STUDY DESIGN Study participants are interviewed to identify asthma diagnosis, access to primary care, frequency of emergency department utilization, hospital admissions, and days of poor physical health. Odds-ratios establish relationships with the covariates on the outcome variable. FINDINGS Those with asthma are found more likely (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.05-2.15) to report poor physical health relative to non-asthma study participants. Further, asthma respondents are found more likely (OR 4.23, 95% CI 1.56-11.69) to frequently utilize primary care that may be associated with the management of the condition and are also more likely to utilize treatment services, such as the emergency department (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.32-2.65) and hospitalization (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.39-3.50), associated with acute and episodic care. Further, it is a novel finding that these likelihoods increase with frequency of utilization for emergency department visits and hospital stays. CONCLUSION Continuity in care and better management of the diseases may result in less demand for emergency department services and hospitalization. Health care systems need to recognize that asthma patients are increasingly more likely to be characterized as frequent utilizers of both primary and emergency department care as the threshold for what constitutes frequent utilization increases. Investments in prevention and better management of the chronic condition may result in less demand for acute care services, especially among high frequency utilizers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua G Behr
- Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA.
| | - Rafael Diaz
- MIT-Zaragosa Logistics Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Zaragoza 50197, España.
| | - Muge Akpinar-Elci
- Center for Global Health, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA.
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20
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Baltrus P, Xu J, Immergluck L, Gaglioti A, Adesokan A, Rust G. Individual and county level predictors of asthma related emergency department visits among children on Medicaid: A multilevel approach. J Asthma 2016; 54:53-61. [PMID: 27285734 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2016.1196367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Disparities in asthma outcomes are well documented in the United States. Interventions to promote equity in asthma outcomes could target factors at the individual and community levels. The objective of this analysis was to understand the effect of individual (race, gender, age, and preventive inhaler use) and county-level factors (demographic, socioeconomic, health care, air-quality) on asthma emergency department (ED) visits among Medicaid-enrolled children. This was a retrospective cohort study of Medicaid-enrolled children with asthma in 29 states in 2009. Multilevel regression models of asthma ED visits were constructed utilizing individual-level variables (race, gender, age, and preventive inhaler use) from the Medicaid enrollment file and county-level variables reflecting population and health system characteristics from the Area Resource File (ARF). County-level measures of air quality were obtained from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data. RESULTS The primary modifiable risk factor at the individual level was found to be the ratio of long-term controller medications to total asthma medications. County-level factors accounted for roughly 6% of the variance in the asthma ED visit risk. Increasing county-level racial segregation (OR=1.04, 95% CI=1.01-1.08) was associated with increasing risk of asthma ED visits. Greater supply of pulmonary physicians at the county level (OR=0.81, 95% CI=0.68-0.97) was associated with a reduction in risk of asthma ED visits. CONCLUSIONS At the patient care level, proper use of controller medications is the factor most amenable to intervention. There is also a societal imperative to address negative social determinants, such as residential segregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Baltrus
- a National Center for Primary Care, Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA.,b Department of Community Health & Preventive Medicine , Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Junjun Xu
- a National Center for Primary Care, Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Lilly Immergluck
- a National Center for Primary Care, Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA.,c Departments of Microbiology , Biochemistry, & Immunology and Pediatrics, Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Anne Gaglioti
- a National Center for Primary Care, Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA.,d Department of Family Medicine , Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Adeola Adesokan
- e Master of Science in Clinical Research Program, Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - George Rust
- a National Center for Primary Care, Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA.,d Department of Family Medicine , Morehouse School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
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Sheares BJ, Evans D. Reply: "Written Asthma Action Plans: The Devil's in the Details" and "Written Action Asthma Plans: Not Such a Simple Issue in Subspecialist Care?". Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2016; 193:222-3. [PMID: 26771420 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201507-1478le] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Sheares BJ, Mellins RB, Dimango E, Serebrisky D, Zhang Y, Bye MR, Dovey ME, Nachman S, Hutchinson V, Evans D. Do Patients of Subspecialist Physicians Benefit from Written Asthma Action Plans? Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2015; 191:1374-83. [PMID: 25867075 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201407-1338oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Asthma clinical guidelines suggest written asthma action plans are essential for improving self-management and outcomes. OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of written instructions in the form of a written asthma action plan provided by subspecialist physicians as part of usual asthma care during office visits. METHODS A total of 407 children and adults with persistent asthma receiving first-time care in pulmonary and allergy practices at 4 urban medical centers were randomized to receive either written instructions (n = 204) or no written instructions other than prescriptions (n = 203) from physicians. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Using written asthma action plan forms as a vehicle for providing self-management instructions did not have a significant effect on any of the primary outcomes: (1) asthma symptom frequency, (2) emergency visits, or (3) asthma quality of life from baseline to 12-month follow-up. Both groups showed similar and significant reductions in asthma symptom frequency (daytime symptoms [P < 0.0001], nocturnal symptoms [P < 0.0001], β-agonist use [P < 0.0001]). There was also a significant reduction in emergency visits for the intervention (P < 0.0001) and control (P < 0.0006) groups. There was significant improvement in asthma quality-of-life scores for adults (P < 0.0001) and pediatric caregivers (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that using a written asthma action plan form as a vehicle for providing asthma management instructions to patients with persistent asthma who are receiving subspecialty care for the first time confers no added benefit beyond subspecialty-based medical care and education for asthma. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 00149461).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Emily Dimango
- 2 Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, and
| | | | | | | | - Mark E Dovey
- 5 Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; and
| | | | | | - David Evans
- 1 Department of Pediatrics and.,8 Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
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Sadatsafavi M, FitzGerald M, Marra C, Lynd L. Costs and health outcomes associated with primary vs secondary care after an asthma-related hospitalization: a population-based study. Chest 2014; 144:428-435. [PMID: 23519289 DOI: 10.1378/chest.12-2773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with a history of asthma-related hospitalizations are at high risk of readmission and generally consume a large amount of health-care resources. It is not clear if the secondary care provided by specialists after an episode of asthma-related hospitalization is associated with better outcomes compared with the primary care provided by general practitioners. METHODS Using population-based administrative health data from the province of British Columbia, Canada, we created a propensity-score-matched cohort of individuals who received primary vs secondary care in the 60 days after discharge from asthma-related hospitalization. Total direct asthma-related medical costs (primary outcome) and health service use and measures of medication adherence (secondary outcomes) were compared for the next 12 months. RESULTS Two thousand eighty-eight individuals were equally matched between the primary and secondary care groups. There was no difference in the direct asthma-related costs (difference $567; 95% CI, -$276 to $1,410) and rate of readmission (rate ratio [RR] = 1.06; 95% CI, 0.85-1.32) between the secondary and the primary care groups. Patients under secondary care had a higher rate of asthma-related outpatient service use (RR = 1.22; 95% CI, 1.11-1.35) but a lower rate of short-acting β-agonist dispensation (RR = 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85-0.98). The proportion of days covered with a controller medication was higher among the secondary care group (difference of 3.2%; 95% CI, 0.4%-6.0%). CONCLUSIONS Compared with those who received only primary care, patients who received secondary care showed evidence of more appropriate treatment. Nevertheless, there were no differences in the costs or the risk of readmission. Adherence to asthma medication in both groups was poor, indicating the need for raising the quality of care provided by generalists and specialists alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Sadatsafavi
- Institute for Heart and Lung Health, Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Mark FitzGerald
- Institute for Heart and Lung Health, Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Carlo Marra
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Larry Lynd
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Patterns of health care utilization for asthma treatment in adults with substance use disorders. J Addict Med 2013; 2:79-84. [PMID: 21768976 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0b013e318160e448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES : National goals for improving asthma outcomes include decreasing emergency room utilization and increasing adherence to outpatient treatment guidelines. Few studies have examined the impact of substance use disorders on asthma treatment. The objective of this study was to describe correlations between substance use disorders and patterns of healthcare utilization for asthma care. METHODS : We performed a retrospective analysis of 1999 Medicaid claims for adults with asthma from 5 states. Adjusted odds of receiving asthma treatment in outpatient, inpatient, and emergency settings were calculated for patients with substance use disorder (SUD). RESULTS : Consistent patterns emerge demonstrating significantly lower odds of utilization of outpatient services for asthma in patients with SUD. A trend toward increased utilization of acute care resources was observed, with odds of emergency care for asthma significantly increased in New Jersey (odds ratio [OR], 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1-1.31) and Georgia (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.04-1.48), and odds of inpatient care for asthma significantly increased in Georgia (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.03-1.95). CONCLUSIONS : Substance use disorders are associated with decreased odds of receiving outpatient care and equivalent or increased odds of receiving emergency and inpatient care for asthma. Consequently, outpatient-based strategies to improve asthma care may have a very limited impact for this population. Identifying asthma patients with SUD in acute care settings and enhancing the care they receive in these settings may be necessary to improve adherence to treatment guidelines and decrease utilization in this population.
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Iribarren C, Tolstykh IV, Miller MK, Sobel E, Eisner MD. Adult asthma and risk of coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and heart failure: a prospective study of 2 matched cohorts. Am J Epidemiol 2012; 176:1014-24. [PMID: 23139248 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kws181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Asthma has been associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The authors ascertained the association of asthma with CVD and the roles that sex, concurrent allergy, and asthma medications may play in this association. They assembled a cohort of 203,595 Northern California adults with asthma and a parallel asthma-free referent cohort (matched 1:1 on age, sex, and race/ethnicity); both cohorts were followed for incident nonfatal or fatal CVD and all-cause mortality from January 1, 1996, through December 31, 2008. Each cohort was 66% female and 47% white. After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, cardiac risk factors, and comorbid allergy, asthma was associated with a 1.40-fold (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35, 1.45) increased hazard of coronary heart disease, a 1.20-fold (95% CI: 1.15, 1.25) hazard of cerebrovascular disease, a 2.14-fold (95% CI: 2.06, 2.22) hazard of heart failure, and a 3.28-fold (95% CI: 3.15, 3.41) hazard of all-cause mortality. Stronger associations were noted among women. Comorbid allergy predicted CVD but did not synergistically increase the CVD risk associated with asthma. Only asthma patients using asthma medications (particularly those on oral corticosteroids alone or in combination) were at enhanced risk of CVD. In conclusion, asthma was prospectively associated with increased risk of major CVD. Modifying effects were noted for sex and asthma medication use but not for comorbid allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Iribarren
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Oakland, California 94612, USA.
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Yang C, Chen CM. Effects of post-discharge telephone calls on the rate of emergency department visits in paediatric patients. J Paediatr Child Health 2012; 48:931-5. [PMID: 22897759 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2012.02519.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of post-discharge telephone calls on the rate of emergency department (ED) visits within 3 days following hospitalisation in paediatric patients. METHODS Patients hospitalised on the Paediatric Service from May 2008 through December 2008 were included in the intervention group and patients hospitalised from May 2007 through December 2007 were included in the control group. Within 3 days of hospital discharge, nurse practitioners attempted daily to contact caregivers in the intervention group and asked children conditions and provided health information. RESULTS There were 643 patients in the intervention group and 642 patients in the control group, respectively. Characteristics of the intervention and control groups were similar with respect to age, sex and days of hospitalisation. Ninety-two per cent of patients in the intervention group received a telephone call from a nurse practitioner within 3 days of hospital discharge. Significantly fewer patients in the intervention group (3 patients, 0.47%) had a subsequent visit to the ED within 3 days of hospital discharge than in the control group (11 patients, 1.71%) (P= 0.034). CONCLUSIONS Telephone follow-up is an effective way of providing health information, managing remaining symptoms, recognising complications, advising patients of medical alternatives and giving reassurance; this may reduce unnecessary patient ED visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Yang
- Department of Paediatrics, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Rhein LM, Konnikova L, McGeachey A, Pruchniewski M, Smith VC. The role of pulmonary follow-up in reducing health care utilization in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2012; 51:645-50. [PMID: 22492835 DOI: 10.1177/0009922812439242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether pulmonary follow-up affects rates of rehospitalization and visitations to emergency departments (EDs) in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, the authors identified all preterm infants born at ≤ 32 weeks' gestation with at least one outpatient visit to a pulmonary follow-up clinic at Children's Hospital Boston or a high-risk primary neurodevelopmental follow-up clinic for preterm infants. ED visits and rehospitalizations were identified through electronic medical records. RESULTS Infants with pulmonary follow-up compared with infants without pulmonary follow-up were, respectively, younger (mean gestational age 26.3 ± 2.3 vs 28.3 ± 2.3 weeks, P < .0001), smaller at birth (birth weight <1200 g, 87.6% vs 57.2%, P < .0001), and needed more supplemental oxygen (55.7% vs 2.6%, P < .0001) and diuretics (65.8% vs 4.7%, P < .001) at the time of discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. Although rates of rehospitalization were higher in infants with pulmonary follow-up, rates of visits to an ED for respiratory causes were not statistically significant. After controlling for baseline differences in both groups, the rates of rehospitalization or ED visits were the same for both groups. CONCLUSIONS Despite differences in lung disease status in infants with and without pulmonary follow-up, the rates of health care utilization were the same in both groups. Pulmonary follow-up may decrease the expected higher rates of ED visits and hospitalizations in preterm infants with more severe lung disease.
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Chen H, Cisternas MG, Katz PP, Omachi TA, Trupin L, Yelin EH, Balmes JR, Blanc PD. Evaluating quality of life in patients with asthma and rhinitis: English adaptation of the rhinasthma questionnaire. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2011; 106:110-118.e1. [PMID: 21277512 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2010.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2010] [Revised: 10/11/2010] [Accepted: 10/25/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Separate health-related quality of life (HRQL) instruments exist for asthma and rhinitis. The Rhinasthma questionnaire, originally developed in Italian, is a unique measure designed for use where both conditions coexist. OBJECTIVE We sought to assess the performance and validity of a new adaptation of the Rhinasthma questionnaire for use in English-speaking populations. METHODS We analyzed cross-sectional data from an ongoing study of adults with asthma and rhinitis (n = 450), asthma alone (n = 75), or rhinitis alone (n = 20). Subjects were administered an English translation of the original 30-item Rhinasthma questionnaire. Health status measures simultaneously assessed include the Short Form (SF)-12, EuroQol (EQ)-5D, and Marks Asthma Quality-of-Life. RESULTS Variable cluster analysis of the original 30-item instrument identified 5 discrete item clusters corresponding to the following domains: nasal (5 items), eye (4 items), respiratory (5 items), activity restriction (9 items), and treatment burden (5 items). Two other items were removed because of poor item-cluster correlations. Subjects with concomitant asthma and rhinitis had greater HRQL impairment, as measured by the Rhinasthma, than subjects with either asthma or rhinitis alone. The Rhinasthma correlated significantly (P < .05) with the SF-12, EQ-5D, and Marks Asthma Quality-of-Life in the anticipated direction consistent with the underlying constructs. In multiple logistic regression, poorer Rhinasthma HRQL was associated with significantly (P < .05) increased odds of both asthma- and rhinitis-related disability even after taking into account physical health status as measured by the SF-12. CONCLUSION The 28-item English adaptation of Rhinasthma performs well in assessing HRQL in patients with asthma, rhinitis, or both conditions combined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hubert Chen
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, USA.
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Iribarren C, Tolstykh IV, Miller MK, Eisner MD. Asthma and the prospective risk of anaphylactic shock and other allergy diagnoses in a large integrated health care delivery system. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2010; 104:371-7. [PMID: 20486326 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2010.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association between asthma and anaphylaxis remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE To ascertain, in a managed care organization in northern California, the association of asthma and asthma severity with future risk of anaphylactic shock and other selected allergy diagnoses. METHODS Using electronic data and validated algorithms, we assembled a cohort of 526,406 patients who met the criteria for asthma between 1996 and 2006 and a referent cohort (with no utilization for asthma) individually matched on age, sex, and race/ethnicity. In each cohort, 54% of patients were female and 55% were white; their mean (SD) age was 24 (20) years. The main outcome measures were anaphylactic shock (caused by an adverse food reaction, caused by serum, or other/idiopathic), allergic urticaria, anaphylaxis after sting(s), and angioedema. RESULTS The incidence of anaphylactic shock was 109.0 per 100,000 person-years in the asthma cohort and 19.9 per 100,000 person-years in the referent cohort. After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, comorbidities, and immunotherapy, asthma was associated with a 5.2-fold (95% confidence interval, 4.7- to 5.6-fold) increased hazard of anaphylactic shock. Asthma was also significantly associated with an increased risk of the 3 selected allergy diagnoses, with hazard ratios of 1.4 to 1.9. A significant trend by severity of asthma was apparent for food-related and other/idiopathic anaphylactic shock and for anaphylaxis after sting(s). CONCLUSIONS In this insured population, asthma was prospectively associated with increased risk of anaphylactic shock and other allergy diagnoses. However, the effect of asthma severity was not consistent across outcome measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Iribarren
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, California 94612, USA.
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Brousseau DC, Gorelick MH, Hoffmann RG, Flores G, Nattinger AB. Primary care quality and subsequent emergency department utilization for children in Wisconsin Medicaid. Acad Pediatr 2009; 9:33-9. [PMID: 19329089 DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2008.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2008] [Revised: 11/10/2008] [Accepted: 11/11/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Children enrolled in Medicaid have disproportionately high emergency department (ED) visit rates. Despite the growing importance of patient reported quality-of-care assessments, little is known about the association between parent-reported quality of primary care and ED utilization for these high-risk children. Our goal was to determine the association between parent-reported primary care quality and subsequent ED utilization for children in Medicaid. METHODS We studied a retrospective cohort of children enrolled in Wisconsin Medicaid. Parents of children sampled during fall 2002 and fall 2004 completed Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems surveys assessing their child's primary care quality in 3 domains: family centeredness, timeliness, and realized access. Primary outcomes were the rates of subsequent nonurgent and urgent ED visits, extracted from claims data for the year after survey completion. Negative binomial regression was used to determine the association between the domains of care and ED utilization. RESULTS A total of 5468 children were included. High-quality family centeredness was associated with a 27% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 11%-40%) lower nonurgent ED visit rate, but no lowering of the urgent visit rate. High-quality timeliness was associated with 18% (95% CI, 3%-31%) lower nonurgent and 18% (95% CI, 1%-33%) lower urgent visit rates. High-quality realized access was associated with a 27% (95% CI, 8%-43%) lower nonurgent visit rate and a 33% (95% CI, 14%-48%) lower urgent visit rate. CONCLUSIONS Parent-reported high-quality timeliness, family centeredness, and realized access for a publicly insured child are associated with lower nonurgent ED, with high-quality timeliness and realized access associated with lower urgent ED utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Brousseau
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, 999 N 92nd Street, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
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Medical management of children with primary hypertension by pediatric subspecialists. Pediatr Nephrol 2009; 24:147-53. [PMID: 18781337 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-008-0970-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2008] [Accepted: 07/30/2008] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Our aim was to characterize medical management of children with primary hypertension (HTN) by pediatric subspecialists. We performed a medical-record review of children < or = 18 years with primary HTN seen at pediatric cardiology or pediatric nephrology clinics at an academic center. Main outcomes were whether treatment decision was in agreement with national guidelines, whether an antihypertensive medication was prescribed, and medication choice. One hundred and eighty children had > or = 1 visit to a pediatric cardiology or nephrology clinic. The majority (83%) of children were pharmacologically managed according to national guidelines. However, only 1/3 children with stage 2 HTN received appropriate antihypertensive therapy from either subspecialty. Only 26 children were prescribed an antihypertensive drug. Children evaluated by pediatric nephrologists were fourfold more likely to receive an antihypertensive than children seen by pediatric cardiologists (29% vs. 7%; p < 0.001). However, all antihypertensive prescriptions were prescribed according to guidelines by both subspecialties. Medical management of children with primary HTN by pediatric cardiologists and pediatric nephrologists is largely consistent with guidelines. However, initiation of appropriate antihypertensive drugs for children with highest severity of HTN is equally poor for both subspecialties. Future studies should explore the factors underlying physicians' reluctance to initiate recommended chronic pharmacologic therapy in children and its associated outcomes.
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Omachi TA, Iribarren C, Sarkar U, Tolstykh I, Yelin EH, Katz PP, Blanc PD, Eisner MD. Risk factors for death in adults with severe asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2008; 101:130-6. [PMID: 18727467 DOI: 10.1016/s1081-1206(10)60200-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mortality risk in adult asthma is poorly understood, especially the interplay among race, disease severity, and health care access. OBJECTIVE To examine mortality risk factors in adult asthma. METHODS In a prospective cohort study of 865 adults with severe asthma in a closed-panel managed care organization, we used structured interviews to evaluate baseline sociodemographics, asthma history, and health status. Patients were followed up until death or the end of the study (mean, 2 years). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to evaluate the impact of sociodemographics, cigarette smoking, and validated measures of perceived asthma control, physical health status, and severity of asthma on the risk of death. RESULTS We confirmed 123 deaths (mortality rate, 6.7 per 100 person-years). In an analysis adjusted for sociodemographics and tobacco history, higher severity-of-asthma scores (hazard ratio [HR], 1.11 per 0.5-SD increase in severity-of-asthma score; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.23) and lower perceived asthma control scores (HR, 0.91 per 0.5-SD increase in perceived asthma control score; 95% CI, 0.83-0.99) were each associated with risk of all-cause mortality. In the same adjusted analysis, African American race was not associated with increased mortality risk relative to white race (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.36-1.14). CONCLUSIONS In a large managed care organization in which access to care is unlikely to vary widely, greater severity-of-asthma scores and poorer perceived asthma control scores are each associated with increased mortality risk in adults with severe asthma, but African American patients are not at increased risk for death relative to white patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore A Omachi
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143-0111, USA.
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Chen H, Johnson CA, Haselkorn T, Lee JH, Israel E. Subspecialty differences in asthma characteristics and management. Mayo Clin Proc 2008; 83:786-93. [PMID: 18613995 PMCID: PMC3102298 DOI: 10.4065/83.7.786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the nature and extent to which asthma characteristics and management differ between allergy and pulmonary subspecialists. PATIENTS AND METHODS We used baseline data from 3342 adults enrolled in The Epidemiology and Natural History of Asthma: Outcomes and Treatment Regimens (TENOR) study, a multicenter, observational cohort recruited from subspecialty practices across the United States. Information on physician subspecialty, asthma history, allergic status, lung function, medication use, and recent health care use was collected from January 1, 2001, through April 30, 2004, via study coordinator-administered interviews and self-administered validated questionnaires. RESULTS In the TENOR study, 2407 patients (72%) were treated by allergists and 935 (28%) by pulmonologists. Patients treated by pulmonologists were more likely to be black, be less educated, and have lower incomes than those treated by allergists. Pulmonary patients had more severe asthma as indicated by physician assessment, Global Initiative for Asthma classification, lung function, and number of asthma control problems. Regular use of a short-acting beta-agonist and systemic corticosteroid use were also higher among pulmonologist-treated patients than allergist-treated patients, consistent with greater asthma severity. Although evidence of allergic disease was prevalent in both types of patients, those treated by an allergist were more likely to receive skin testing or immunotherapy. In multivariate analyses adjusted for demographic differences, patients treated by pulmonologists were more likely to report health care use for asthma in the past 3 months. CONCLUSION In general, asthma patients treated by pulmonologists have lower socioeconomic status, have more severe disease, require more medication, and report greater health care use than those treated by allergists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hubert Chen
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND A convincing body of literature links obesity with a higher risk for developing adult-onset asthma. The impact of obesity on asthma severity among adults with pre-existing asthma, however, is less clear. METHODS AND PROCEDURES In a prospective cohort study of 843 adults with severe asthma, we studied the impact of BMI on asthma health status. RESULTS The prevalence of obesity and overweight were 44% (95% confidence interval (CI) 41-47%) and 28% (95% CI 25-32%). The obese BMI group was associated with a higher risk for daily or near daily asthma symptoms than was the normal BMI group (odds ratio (OR) 1.81; 95% CI 1.10-2.96). Compared to the normal BMI group, generic physical health status was worse in the overweight (mean score decrement -2.42 points; 95% CI -4.39 to -0.45) and the obese groups (-6.31 points; 95% CI -8.14 to -4.49). Asthma-specific quality of life was worse in the underweight (mean score increment 8.66 points; 95% CI 2.53-14.8) and obese groups (4.51 points; 95% CI 2.21-6.81), compared to those with normal BMI. Obese persons also had a higher number of restricted activity days that past month (5.05 days; 95% CI 2.90-7.19 days). DISCUSSION It appears that obesity has a substantive negative effect on health status among adults with asthma. Further work is needed to clarify the precise mechanisms. Clinicians should counsel dietary modification and weight loss for their overweight and obese patients with asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Vortmann
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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Calfee CS, Katz PP, Yelin EH, Iribarren C, Eisner MD. The influence of perceived control of asthma on health outcomes. Chest 2006; 130:1312-8. [PMID: 17099005 DOI: 10.1378/chest.130.5.1312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychosocial factors play an important role in outcomes of asthma. Perceived control, a measure of patients' beliefs about their ability to control their disease, has not been studied in association with asthma health outcomes METHODS We used data from a prospective cohort study of patients who were hospitalized for asthma (n = 865). After hospital discharge, we conducted structured telephone interviews to obtain demographic characteristics, asthma history, and psychological variables. Interviews included administration of the Perceived Control of Asthma Questionnaire (PCAQ). We then prospectively measured emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations for asthma over time, with a median follow-up time of 1.9 years RESULTS Greater perceived control was associated with better physical health status (mean score increment per 2-point change in PCAQ score, 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79 to 1.47), better asthma-related quality of life (mean score increment, -2.24; 95% CI, -2.6 to -1.83), fewer days of restricted activity due to asthma (mean increment, -1.23; 95% CI, -1.62 to -0.83), and lower asthma severity scores (mean score increment, -0.40; 95% CI, -0.53 to -0.27). In a multivariate model, greater perceived control was associated with a significantly decreased prospective risk of ED visits (hazard ratio [HR], 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86 to 0.98; p = 0.008) and hospitalizations for asthma (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.90; p < 0.0001). There was no association found between perceived control and most aspects of preventive care or self-management CONCLUSIONS Greater perceived control is associated with improved asthma-related health status as well as with a decreased prospective risk of severe asthma attacks resulting in emergency health-care utilization. This difference does not appear to be mediated by changes in preventive care or asthma self-management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn S Calfee
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
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Eisner MD, Yelin EH, Katz PP, Lactao G, Iribarren C, Blanc PD. Risk factors for work disability in severe adult asthma. Am J Med 2006; 119:884-91. [PMID: 17000221 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2006.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2005] [Revised: 01/10/2006] [Accepted: 01/15/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to elucidate the prevalence of and risk factors for work disability in severe adult asthma and to evaluate the impact of work disability on downstream health outcomes. METHODS We used data from a prospective cohort study of 465 adults with severe asthma. Structured telephone interviews ascertained asthma status and employment history. A job exposure matrix (JEM) was used to characterize the likelihood of workplace exposure to "asthmagens." RESULTS The prevalence of asthma-related complete work disability was 14% among working-age adults with severe asthma (95% confidence interval, 11%-18%). Among those who were currently employed, the prevalence of partial work disability was 38% (95% confidence interval, 31%-45%). Sociodemographic (P = .027) and medical factors (P = .020) were related to the risk of complete work disability. Both sociodemographic characteristics (P = .06) and work exposures based on the JEM (P = .012) were related to partial work disability. In additional models, poorer asthma severity, physical health status, and mental health status were all associated with a higher risk of complete and partial work disability. CONCLUSIONS Work disability is common among adults with severe asthma. There are three sets of risk factors for work disability that are potentially modifiable: smoking, workplace exposures, and asthma severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Eisner
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA.
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