OBJECTIVE: To determine what proportion of patients who are seen in an emergency department (ED) for asthma receive inhaled corticosteroids or attend follow-up appointments. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of 2007-2009 South Carolina Medicaid data. Enrollees aged 2-18 years who had an ED visit for asthma were included. Patients admitted for asthma or with an inhaled corticosteroid claim in the 2 months before the month of the ED visit were excluded. Covariates were sex, race, age, rural residence, and asthma severity. Outcome measures were a prescription for an inhaled corticosteroid filled within the 2 months after the ED visit and attendance at a follow-up appointment within the 2 months after the ED visit. RESULTS: A total of 3435 patients were included. Out of the study cohort, 57% were male, 76% were of a minority race/ethnicity, 69% lived in an urban areas, 18% had inhaled corticosteroid use, and 12% completed follow-up. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that patients with severe asthma were more likely to receive an inhaled corticosteroid (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 2.3-3.7) and attend a follow-up appointment (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.5-2.6). Patients aged 2-6 years and those aged >12 years were less likely to attend follow-up (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56-0.90 and OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.47-0.83, respectively) (all models P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Children with asthma seen in the ED have low rates of inhaled corticosteroid use and outpatient follow-up. This indicates a need for further interventions to increase the use of inhaled corticosteroids in response to ED visits.
OBJECTIVE: To determine what proportion of patients who are seen in an emergency department (ED) for asthma receive inhaled corticosteroids or attend follow-up appointments. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of 2007-2009 South Carolina Medicaid data. Enrollees aged 2-18 years who had an ED visit for asthma were included. Patients admitted for asthma or with an inhaled corticosteroid claim in the 2 months before the month of the ED visit were excluded. Covariates were sex, race, age, rural residence, and asthma severity. Outcome measures were a prescription for an inhaled corticosteroid filled within the 2 months after the ED visit and attendance at a follow-up appointment within the 2 months after the ED visit. RESULTS: A total of 3435 patients were included. Out of the study cohort, 57% were male, 76% were of a minority race/ethnicity, 69% lived in an urban areas, 18% had inhaled corticosteroid use, and 12% completed follow-up. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that patients with severe asthma were more likely to receive an inhaled corticosteroid (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 2.3-3.7) and attend a follow-up appointment (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.5-2.6). Patients aged 2-6 years and those aged >12 years were less likely to attend follow-up (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56-0.90 and OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.47-0.83, respectively) (all models P < .0001). CONCLUSION:Children with asthma seen in the ED have low rates of inhaled corticosteroid use and outpatient follow-up. This indicates a need for further interventions to increase the use of inhaled corticosteroids in response to ED visits.
Authors: Ellen Childs; Margaret A Laws; Mari-Lynn Drainoni; Anjali Nath; Margaret J Reid; Megan Sandel; Robyn T Cohen Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2017-12 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Sarah Nicole Adams; Mary Abel; Dustin Fowler; Jennifer Braden; Myla D Ebeling; Annie N Simpson; M Olivia Titus; Annie Lintzenich Andrews Journal: J Asthma Date: 2017-05-26 Impact factor: 2.515
Authors: W Scott Russell; Judith Rosen Farrar; Richard Nowak; Daniel P Hays; Natalie Schmitz; Joseph Wood; Judi Miller Journal: World J Emerg Med Date: 2013
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