Changes in asthma management in Australian general practice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate changes in national prevalence, severity and management rates of asthma in Australian general practice from 1990 to 2003.


METHODS
A comparative study of general practitioner (GP) encounters with asthma patients, in cross sectional surveys from 1990-91 and 1998-2003. Main outcome measures were relative rates of asthma management, prevalence and severity of asthma.


RESULTS
The prevalence of asthma remained constant between 1999 and 2002. Prevalence in children was significantly higher (18.4%) than in adults (13.2%) (p < 0.0001). The asthma management rate fell by 0.5 (from 3.7 to 3.2) per 100 encounters between 1990-91 and 1998 (8 years), and by a further 0.5 (from 3.2 to 2.7) per 100 encounters between 1998 and 2003 (5 years) suggesting an accelerating rate of decrease in the general practice asthma management rate over time.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that Australians attending general practice may be gaining better control of their asthma.
Henderson
J
J
Acacia House, Westmead Hospital, GP Statistics and Classification Unit, Family Medicine Research Centre, University of Sydney, PO Box 533, Wentworthville 2145, Australia.
Knox
S
S
Pan
Y
Y
Britt
H
H