Do regular check ups and preventive drug use reduce asthma severity in school children?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether regular check ups and preventive drug use reduce asthma symptoms in school children.


METHODS
Cross sectional retrospective questionnaire responses obtained from 2193 children aged 6-7 years in 34 primary schools, and 3650 children aged 13-14 years in nine secondary schools, selected at random by cluster sampling.


METHODS
Asthma severity in the past 12 months as measured by the number of attacks of wheezing, visits to a doctor, visits to a hospital emergency department, and hospital admissions, all for wheezing or asthma.


METHODS
Multivariate ordinal logistic regression.


RESULTS
Regular general practitioner check ups were associated with reduced asthma severity. Regular use of prophylactic and bronchodilator medications was associated with reduced symptoms. Asthma action plans and peak flow meter usage were associated with reduced hospital admissions.


CONCLUSIONS
If these associations are causal, then regular GP check ups are effective in reducing the health consequences of asthma in children.
Schools of Medicine, Pharmacology and Population Health, University of Western Australia.
Lyle J
LJ
Palmer
Liora
L
Valinsky
Terri
T
Pikora
Louis I
LI
Landau
D000293:Adolescent; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents