Patient referrals to a multispecialty asthma clinic. Asthma Care Center Clinical Consortium.
A total of 656 patients with asthma have been referred to a multispecialty pediatric asthma clinic for evaluation; 52 (7.9%): mild; 406 (61.9%): moderate; 177 (27%): severe; and 21 (3.2%): incomplete data. No significant differences in demographics or payer source were observed across disease severity levels. Only 25% of the patients with primary care providers were referred by these practitioners. Over 20% of the mild asthmatics were using inhaled bronchodilators regularly. Only 40% and 50% of the moderate and severe asthmatics, respectively, were using inhaled bronchodilators regularly, and only 19% and 36%, respectively, were on maintenance inhaled corticosteroids. Pressures to reduce subspecialty services may place some of these asthma patients at increased risk for complications from this chronic lung disease.
James
J M
JM
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA.
Robbins
J M
JM
Gillaspy
S R
SR
Kellogg
K W
KW
Fawcett
D D
DD
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001131:Arkansas / Q000453:epidemiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007343:Insurance Carriers; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents