OBJECTIVES: We developed and evaluated a statewide and community-level asthma surveillance system. METHODS: Databases and measures included a community prevalence survey, hospital admissions data, emergency department/outpatient clinic visit records, and a physician survey of diagnosis and treatment practices. We evaluated the system in 5 Maine communities varying in population and income. RESULTS: Asthma hospitalizations were high in the rural/low-socioeconomic-status communities studied, although diagnosed asthma was low. Males were more likely than females to experience asthma symptoms, although they were less likely to have been diagnosed with asthma or to have used hospital-based asthma care. CONCLUSIONS: Databases were useful for estimating asthma burden and identifying service needs as well as high-risk groups. They were less useful in estimating severity or in identifying environmental risks.
OBJECTIVES: We developed and evaluated a statewide and community-level asthma surveillance system. METHODS: Databases and measures included a community prevalence survey, hospital admissions data, emergency department/outpatient clinic visit records, and a physician survey of diagnosis and treatment practices. We evaluated the system in 5 Maine communities varying in population and income. RESULTS:Asthma hospitalizations were high in the rural/low-socioeconomic-status communities studied, although diagnosed asthma was low. Males were more likely than females to experience asthma symptoms, although they were less likely to have been diagnosed with asthma or to have used hospital-based asthma care. CONCLUSIONS: Databases were useful for estimating asthma burden and identifying service needs as well as high-risk groups. They were less useful in estimating severity or in identifying environmental risks.
Authors: D M Mannino; D M Homa; C A Pertowski; A Ashizawa; L L Nixon; C A Johnson; L B Ball; E Jack; D S Kang Journal: MMWR CDC Surveill Summ Date: 1998-04-24
Authors: Mary Jo Trepka; Pilar Martin; Kunjana Mavunda; Diana Rodriguez; Guoyan Zhang; Clive Brown Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 2009 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 2.792