Maria Ödling1, Niklas Andersson2, Jenny Hallberg3, Catarina Almqvist4, Christer Janson5, Anna Bergström6, Erik Melén7, Inger Kull3. 1. Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: Maria.Odling@ki.se. 2. Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 3. Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. 4. Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Paediatric Allergy and Pulmonology Unit at Astrid Lindgren's Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. 5. Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory, Allergy and Sleep Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. 6. Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden. 7. Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: For adolescents, asthma management can be challenging during the transition to adulthood, and changes in health care and pharmacological treatment may occur. OBJECTIVE: To investigate asthma-related health care consumption and pharmacological dispensation during the transition process. METHODS: In a Swedish birth cohort study, questionnaire and clinical data from the 16- and 24-year follow-ups were linked to national and regional registries for asthma-related health care consumption and dispensed medications during an 8-year period: 4 years before and after age 18 y, respectively. RESULTS: In the study population (n = 1808), 14% fulfilled the study definition of current asthma at the 16- and 24-year follow-up and 8% (n = 147) had persistent asthma. Among them, register data showed that in the 4-year period before their 18th birthday, 39% (58 of 147) had at least 1 consultation, similar to 37% (55 of 147) in the following 4-year period. The mean number of consultations before age 18 years was 1.6, compared with 1.0 after age 18 years (P = .02). At least 1 dispensation of any inhaled corticosteroid before age 18 years was found for 73% (107 of 147), compared with 50% (74 of 147) after age 18 years. The mean number of dispensed any inhaled corticosteroid was 3.1 before 18 years and 2.1 after 18 years (P < .01). Only 3% (5 of 147) had a regular dispensation of any inhaled corticosteroid once a year during the 8-year period. CONCLUSIONS: Health care consultations were fewer than recommended in guidelines and decreased after the transition to adult health care. Almost no one had dispensed regular asthma medications during the 8-year period.
BACKGROUND: For adolescents, asthma management can be challenging during the transition to adulthood, and changes in health care and pharmacological treatment may occur. OBJECTIVE: To investigate asthma-related health care consumption and pharmacological dispensation during the transition process. METHODS: In a Swedish birth cohort study, questionnaire and clinical data from the 16- and 24-year follow-ups were linked to national and regional registries for asthma-related health care consumption and dispensed medications during an 8-year period: 4 years before and after age 18 y, respectively. RESULTS: In the study population (n = 1808), 14% fulfilled the study definition of current asthma at the 16- and 24-year follow-up and 8% (n = 147) had persistent asthma. Among them, register data showed that in the 4-year period before their 18th birthday, 39% (58 of 147) had at least 1 consultation, similar to 37% (55 of 147) in the following 4-year period. The mean number of consultations before age 18 years was 1.6, compared with 1.0 after age 18 years (P = .02). At least 1 dispensation of any inhaled corticosteroid before age 18 years was found for 73% (107 of 147), compared with 50% (74 of 147) after age 18 years. The mean number of dispensed any inhaled corticosteroid was 3.1 before 18 years and 2.1 after 18 years (P < .01). Only 3% (5 of 147) had a regular dispensation of any inhaled corticosteroid once a year during the 8-year period. CONCLUSIONS: Health care consultations were fewer than recommended in guidelines and decreased after the transition to adult health care. Almost no one had dispensed regular asthma medications during the 8-year period.
Keywords:
Adolescents; Adult health care; Birth cohort; Guidelines; Level of care; Management; Pediatric and adult health care; Phenotypes; Severity; Young adults