[Persistence rate for clinic visit in children with asthma after initiating controller therapy].

OBJECT: To investigate the actual condition of the persistence rate for clinic visit in children with asthma requiring controller medication.
METHODS: Seventy-three asthma children (0 to 15 years of age) who initiated controller medication were enrolled this study. Patients and their parents were educated about this disease (mechanism of asthma, airway inflammation, and necessity of asthma medication) and instructed to visit clinics regularly every 30 days. We prospectively monitored visit rate of the patients for 180 days.
RESULTS: Mean persistence rate for clinic visit of all patients was gradually decreased, 90.4% on the 30 day, 82.2% on the 60 day, 78.1% on the 90 day, 67.1% on the 120 day and 38.4% on the 180 day, respectively. The persistence rate on the 180 day of 2 to 5 years old patients was significantly lower than that of < 2 years old patients and the rate on the 60 days or more after in 6 to 15 years old patients was lower than that of < 2 years old patients. It was also significantly lower in patients with moderate and severe persistent asthma than in mild persistent patients.
CONCLUSION: Despite of the investigation in the setting of asthma specialty clinic, the persistence rate for clinic visit was decreased with time, especially in 6 to 15 years old or moderate to severe asthmatic patients. In order to improve the situation, it is necessary to analyze the cause of poor adherence and make a concrete action plan.