[The prevalence of asthma and the utilization of medical services among those insured by a health-services company in Puerto Rico, 1996-1997].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence and pattern of utilization of medical services in insured of SSS with a diagnosis of asthma during 1996 and 1997.


METHODS
The medical claims of SSS insured whose main diagnosis was asthma (ICD-9 9 493-493.9) were selected for analysis. The prevalence and medical service utilization (medical visits, emergency and hospital admissions) were estimated. Differences in health service utilization by age group were analyzed by the Poisson model.


RESULTS
The asthma prevalence was 14.5%, being larger in patients younger than 18 years of age and in females. 54.3% of the asthmatic patients visited medical offices and the larger proportion of users was observed in the younger group (< 18 years). However, the larger proportion of users of the emergency room was observed in the 18-44 age group, while the hospital admissions was larger in the 45-64 age group. More than half (56%) of the cost per service was attributed to hospital admissions while 31% was for pharmacy services. 65.9% of the insurers with asthma had prescriptions for short relief beta-antagonist.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of asthma in this study was high and similar to rates of the disease reported in Puerto Ricans residing in the U. S. and in other areas of the island. Similarly, the prevalence differed by age in the utilization of medical services as well as the high cost of hospital admissions. Prevalence studies using other sources as well as a standard definition of the condition may be helpful to confirm these results.
Pérez-Perdomo
R
R
Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Ciencias Médicas, Escuela Graduada de Salud Pública, Departmento de Biostadística y Epidemiología 00936. ros_perez@rcmaca.upr.clu.edu
Súarez-Pérez
E
E
Torres
D
D
Morell
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D015995:Prevalence; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology