OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of the asthmatic population at our centre through the information gathered from clinical records, the morbidity caused by asthma and the health education given. DESIGN: Retrospective, descriptive study. SETTING: Urban primary care team. PARTICIPANTS: Asthma sufferers over 14 registered at the centre (n=284). MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Review of the clinical records and analysis of data on diagnosis, follow-up and control of the illness. RESULTS: Prevalence of asthmatics at our centre ran at 1.8%. 73.6% (68.5-78.7) were women, whose average age was 51.25 (21.57). 19% were illiterate. The most common kind of asthma was intermittent (14.1%, 10-18.1). Respiratory infections sparked off acute attacks in 15% (11.3-19.7) of cases. 39.8% (31.4-45.5) (n=113) were diagnosed at the health centre. Spirometry was used as a diagnostic test in 23% (15.2-30.8) (n=26) of these 113 patients. The PC doctor participated in monitoring 81.7% (77.2-86.2) of asthma cases. Spirometry was used in the previous 3 years on 45.4% (39.6-51.2). 95% of spirometry tests were conducted at the hospital. As to health education, there was no record of explanations about the concept of asthma or of breathing techniques in 90.1% (86.1-93.4) and 81% (76.4-85.5) of clinical records, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: High percentage of asthmatics monitored by PC doctors. Under-recording in clinical records of asthma-related action taken. Few additional monitoring tests were conducted. There were few data on health education.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of the asthmatic population at our centre through the information gathered from clinical records, the morbidity caused by asthma and the health education given. DESIGN: Retrospective, descriptive study. SETTING: Urban primary care team. PARTICIPANTS: Asthma sufferers over 14 registered at the centre (n=284). MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Review of the clinical records and analysis of data on diagnosis, follow-up and control of the illness. RESULTS: Prevalence of asthmatics at our centre ran at 1.8%. 73.6% (68.5-78.7) were women, whose average age was 51.25 (21.57). 19% were illiterate. The most common kind of asthma was intermittent (14.1%, 10-18.1). Respiratory infections sparked off acute attacks in 15% (11.3-19.7) of cases. 39.8% (31.4-45.5) (n=113) were diagnosed at the health centre. Spirometry was used as a diagnostic test in 23% (15.2-30.8) (n=26) of these 113 patients. The PC doctor participated in monitoring 81.7% (77.2-86.2) of asthma cases. Spirometry was used in the previous 3 years on 45.4% (39.6-51.2). 95% of spirometry tests were conducted at the hospital. As to health education, there was no record of explanations about the concept of asthma or of breathing techniques in 90.1% (86.1-93.4) and 81% (76.4-85.5) of clinical records, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: High percentage of asthmatics monitored by PC doctors. Under-recording in clinical records of asthma-related action taken. Few additional monitoring tests were conducted. There were few data on health education.