AIM: To estimate how many asthmatic children underwent spirometry testing in one year in a large Italian region, and evaluate sociodemographic determinants. METHODS: Data were retrieved from the administrative databases that store all pharmacological and diagnostic prescriptions issued to individuals living in the Lombardy Region. The analysis involved prescriptions dispensed to all 6-17 year olds (1,047,241 subjects) during 2008. Youths were identified as asthmatics by a previously validated strategy. Number of subjects having ≥1 spirometry claims was calculated, and factors associated with the probability of undergoing spirometry were evaluated by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 40,528 (3.9%) asthmatic subjects were identified. Only 30% of them underwent ≥1 spirometry during 2008, with differences between local health units (range 22-45%) and degree of anti-asthmatic use (26-35%). Moreover, in a multivariate analysis, the chance of undergoing spirometry was greater in boys than in girls (OR=2.3). CONCLUSIONS: A low percentage of asthmatic children, especially girls (who are more at risk of developing severe disease in adulthood), underwent spirometry during 1-year period. This highlights a low compliance with guidelines in the monitoring of childhood asthma. Educational intervention is needed in order to encourage use of spirometry in primary care settings.
AIM: To estimate how many asthmatic children underwent spirometry testing in one year in a large Italian region, and evaluate sociodemographic determinants. METHODS: Data were retrieved from the administrative databases that store all pharmacological and diagnostic prescriptions issued to individuals living in the Lombardy Region. The analysis involved prescriptions dispensed to all 6-17 year olds (1,047,241 subjects) during 2008. Youths were identified as asthmatics by a previously validated strategy. Number of subjects having ≥1 spirometry claims was calculated, and factors associated with the probability of undergoing spirometry were evaluated by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 40,528 (3.9%) asthmatic subjects were identified. Only 30% of them underwent ≥1 spirometry during 2008, with differences between local health units (range 22-45%) and degree of anti-asthmatic use (26-35%). Moreover, in a multivariate analysis, the chance of undergoing spirometry was greater in boys than in girls (OR=2.3). CONCLUSIONS: A low percentage of asthmatic children, especially girls (who are more at risk of developing severe disease in adulthood), underwent spirometry during 1-year period. This highlights a low compliance with guidelines in the monitoring of childhood asthma. Educational intervention is needed in order to encourage use of spirometry in primary care settings.
Authors: Valerio Ceriani; Giuliano Sarro; Giancarlo Micheletto; Alessandro Giovanelli; Ahmed S Zakaria; Marco Fanchini; Chiara Osio; Italo Nosari; Alberto Morabito; Antonio E Pontiroli Journal: Int J Obes (Lond) Date: 2018-11-23 Impact factor: 5.095
Authors: Sven Schmiedl; Rainald Fischer; Luisa Ibáñez; Joan Fortuny; Olaf H Klungel; Robert Reynolds; Roman Gerlach; Martin Tauscher; Petra Thürmann; Joerg Hasford; Marietta Rottenkolber Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-09-02 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Antonio E Pontiroli; Ahmed S Zakaria; Ermanno Mantegazza; Alberto Morabito; Alessandro Saibene; Enrico Mozzi; Giancarlo Micheletto Journal: Cardiovasc Diabetol Date: 2016-02-27 Impact factor: 9.951
Authors: Pietro Casartelli; Antonio Clavenna; Massimo Cartabia; Angela Bortolotti; Ida Fortino; Luca Merlino; Andrea Biondi; Maurizio Bonati Journal: BMJ Paediatr Open Date: 2018-10-09