BACKGROUND: Since June 2011, the Brazilian health system started providing asthma medications (beclomethasone and salbutamol), totally free of charge to patients with asthma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the provision of free asthma medications on hospital admissions for asthma in Brazil, using a national hospitalization database (DATASUS), comparing the incidence of hospital admissions before and after the free supply of these drugs. METHODS: Admissions of patients with 1-49 years of age by the Brazilian public health system with the diagnosis of asthma were compared pre (2008-2010) and post (2012-2014) provision of free medicines (beclomethasone and salbutamol). The number of hospital admissions due to asthma and non-respiratory diseases, as well as the amount spent with asthma hospitalization, were obtained from DATASUS, the Brazilian government open-access public health database system. RESULTS: Admission rates for asthma significantly decreased from 90.09/100.000 (2008-2010) to 59.85/100.000 (2012-2014), when the period pre and post provision of free medicines were compared [OR 0.67 (CI 0.48-0.92)]. Non-respiratory admission rates remained stable, when both periods were also compared. CONCLUSION: Asthma hospitalization rates significantly decreased in the three-year period after the provision of free medicines to treat asthma. Our findings suggest that the provision of free medications for asthma may have a particular public health impact by its own in developing countries. Copyright Â
BACKGROUND: Since June 2011, the Brazilian health system started providing asthma medications (beclomethasone and salbutamol), totally free of charge to patients with asthma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the provision of free asthma medications on hospital admissions for asthma in Brazil, using a national hospitalization database (DATASUS), comparing the incidence of hospital admissions before and after the free supply of these drugs. METHODS: Admissions of patients with 1-49 years of age by the Brazilian public health system with the diagnosis of asthma were compared pre (2008-2010) and post (2012-2014) provision of free medicines (beclomethasone and salbutamol). The number of hospital admissions due to asthma and non-respiratory diseases, as well as the amount spent with asthma hospitalization, were obtained from DATASUS, the Brazilian government open-access public health database system. RESULTS: Admission rates for asthma significantly decreased from 90.09/100.000 (2008-2010) to 59.85/100.000 (2012-2014), when the period pre and post provision of free medicines were compared [OR 0.67 (CI 0.48-0.92)]. Non-respiratory admission rates remained stable, when both periods were also compared. CONCLUSION:Asthma hospitalization rates significantly decreased in the three-year period after the provision of free medicines to treat asthma. Our findings suggest that the provision of free medications for asthma may have a particular public health impact by its own in developing countries. Copyright Â
Authors: Luciana S Aragão-França; Viviane C J Rocha; F H B Costa; José Fernandes Vasconcelos; E S Santos; C F Araújo; Lain C Pontes-de-Carvalho; Luciana Souza de Aragão-França; Viviane Costa Junqueira Rocha; Andre Cronemberger-Andrade; Fábio Henrique Brasil da Costa; Daniel Abensur Athanazio; Daniela Nascimento Silva; Emanuelle Souza Santos; Cássio Santana Meira; Cintia Figueiredo Araujo; Jéssica Vieira Cerqueira; Fabíola Cardillo; Neuza Maria Alcântara-Neves; Milena Botelho Pereira Soares; Lain Carlos Pontes de Carvalho Journal: Allergy Asthma Immunol Res Date: 2018-07 Impact factor: 5.764
Authors: Luisa Arueira Chaves; Danielle Maria de Souza Serio Dos Santos; Monica Rodrigues Campos; Vera Lucia Luiza Journal: Public Health Rev Date: 2019-12-09