A Bocquier1, Y El-Haïk2, M Jardin3, S Cortaredona3, S Nauleau4, P Verger3. 1. Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (ORS PACA), 23, rue Stanislas-Torrents, 13006 Marseille, France; Inserm, UMR912 (SESSTIM), 13006 Marseille, France; UMR_S912, IRD, Aix-Marseille université, 13006 Marseille, France. Electronic address: aurelie.bocquier@inserm.fr. 2. Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (ORS PACA), 23, rue Stanislas-Torrents, 13006 Marseille, France; Service pharmacie, CHU Timone, AP-HM, 13385 Marseille, France. 3. Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (ORS PACA), 23, rue Stanislas-Torrents, 13006 Marseille, France; Inserm, UMR912 (SESSTIM), 13006 Marseille, France; UMR_S912, IRD, Aix-Marseille université, 13006 Marseille, France. 4. Département observation et études, Agence régionale de santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, 13331 Marseille, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Data on asthma prevalence at a small-area level would be useful to set up and monitor French local public health policies. This study, based on drug reimbursement databases in southeastern France, aimed to (1) compare asthma-like disorders prevalence estimated by using three different indicators; (2) study sociodemographic characteristics associated with these indicators; (3) verify whether these indicators are equivalent to study geographical disparities of the asthma-like disorders prevalence at a small-area level. METHODS: The study was conducted among the beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Fund aged 18-44 years residing in southeastern France in 2010 (n=1,371,816). Using data on asthma drugs reimbursements (therapeutic class R03), we built three indicators to assess asthma-like disorders prevalence: at least 1, 2 or 3 purchase(s) in 2010. We analyzed sociodemographic characteristics associated with these indicators, and their geographical disparities at a small-area level using multilevel logistic regression models. RESULTS: The crude asthma-like disorders prevalence varied between 2.6 % and 8.4 % depending on the indicator. It increased with age, was higher for women than for men, and among low-income people for all three indicators. We measured significant geographical disparities. Areas with high prevalence rates were the same regardless of the indicator. CONCLUSION: The indicators built in this study can be useful to identify high prevalence areas. They could contribute to launch discussion on environmental health issues at the local level.
BACKGROUND: Data on asthma prevalence at a small-area level would be useful to set up and monitor French local public health policies. This study, based on drug reimbursement databases in southeastern France, aimed to (1) compare asthma-like disorders prevalence estimated by using three different indicators; (2) study sociodemographic characteristics associated with these indicators; (3) verify whether these indicators are equivalent to study geographical disparities of the asthma-like disorders prevalence at a small-area level. METHODS: The study was conducted among the beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Fund aged 18-44 years residing in southeastern France in 2010 (n=1,371,816). Using data on asthma drugs reimbursements (therapeutic class R03), we built three indicators to assess asthma-like disorders prevalence: at least 1, 2 or 3 purchase(s) in 2010. We analyzed sociodemographic characteristics associated with these indicators, and their geographical disparities at a small-area level using multilevel logistic regression models. RESULTS: The crude asthma-like disorders prevalence varied between 2.6 % and 8.4 % depending on the indicator. It increased with age, was higher for women than for men, and among low-income people for all three indicators. We measured significant geographical disparities. Areas with high prevalence rates were the same regardless of the indicator. CONCLUSION: The indicators built in this study can be useful to identify high prevalence areas. They could contribute to launch discussion on environmental health issues at the local level.