title: Uses and limitations of mortality and health care utilization statistics in asthma research.
abstract: Mortality and health care utilization (HCU) statistics for asthma reflect both the acute and chronic aspects of this condition. We present a conceptual model that incorporates this dichotomy and also distinguishes between measures of disease occurrence (e.g., incidence and prevalence) and measures of disease management. We also discuss the use of mortality and HCU statistics in the literature, review their limitations and advantages, and make a number of general recommendations for their use.
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR 97227.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Vollmer
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Buist
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology